Somaliland’s opposition UCID party leader Faisal Ali Warabe has on Tuesday backed the breakaway regions forces capture of the strategic town of Tukaraq from Puntland forces.
Speaking to the media in Hargeisa the opposition leader praised the forces for what he said was “securing the borders of Somaliland and its sovereigntyâ€
Warabe asserted that Tukaraq a town in the disputed Sool region is within Somaliland territory accusing Somalia of continued efforts to destabilize Somaliland.
“The Somaliland national army performed their national duty in Tukaraq where Somali forces commanded in Garowe were illegally controlling and extorting funds in the name of tax. That was a national issue and I am congratulating the army, the new President Musa Bihi, commanders of the national army and residents of the area who complained a lot about the illegal land incursion†said Mr Warabe.
Somaliland forces early Monday launched an attack on the Puntland administered town capturing it after fierce fighting.
Puntland in reaction issued a statement claiming the attack aimed at disrupting the Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmaajo†tour of the region which kicked off on Sunday in Garowe 90 km from Tukaraq.
