Press Release

G11 Statement – 29 November 2013

On November 27 2013, Puntland Presidential Guard forces attacked a Khatumo delegation on their way to Taleh to attend the Khatumo III Conference. On November 28, 2013, Farole’s forces with over 50 Technicals and large trucks attacked the Capital of Khatumo State of Taleh killing 9 people and injuring 8 others. Many residents have also been displaced into the countryside to escape the indiscriminate heavy shelling and shooting of the inhabitants of the city by the forces from Garowe. Among the dead is a well-known Khatumo poet who lobbied for an autonomous Khatumo State of Somalia. He was targeted for his unwavering stand.

The Garoweonline.com website that is an official mouth piece of Farole & Co. wrote a justification for the aggression in the following terms, “The Puntland Administration has made it known that it would not allow for this meeting in Taleh as that would damage the unity of Puntland!” They also stated in the same article that they suspect that the organizers of the conference in Taleh had contacts with politicians in Mogadishu!

The G-11 (Khatumo Consultative Council), people and government of Khatumo State of Somalia condemn this barbaric and unprovoked aggression against the people and city of Taleh. We demand that all Puntland forces leave Taleh and all Khatumo territories immediately to avoid any further bloodshed and displacement of innocent civilians. The people of Khatumo State of Somalia will defend themselves and their territories and will not allow the dying regime of Farole or anyone else to interfere with their God-given right to remain an autonomous Federal States within the Somali Republic.

The Khatumo-III conference will take place and we call on all members of the Khatumo community to exercise self-restraint as we attempt to avert further bloodshed. We also call on the elders, scholars, politicians and intellectuals of Puntland to call upon Farole to pull his forces from all Khatumo territories immediately.

We call on the Somali Federal Government, and all members of the International Community to condemn this unprovoked aggression and provide assistance to the displaced and injured. Ninety percent of the population of the city have fled to nomadic areas where they lack sufficient food and shelter.

Dr. Ali Isse
Chairman, Group of 11 (Khatumo Consultative Council)

Khatumo State of Somalia
Email: khaatumo.g11@gmail.com