The Las Anod conflict complicates the mission for true independence from Somalia
Abdallae Ahmed Mumin recalls being shot at and threatened in the line of duty. He escaped with his life, but not all his peers were so lucky.
Somali officials on Monday urged tough action against pirates holding a French yacht after an elite French army unit was placed on standby to intervene if negotiations failed. The local governor in Somalia’s breakaway northern region of Puntland, Musa Ghelle Yusuf, said he would be "happy … to see the pirates killed".
Somali rivals both claimed control of a disputed northern town on Tuesday after deadly clashes, and more fighting was feared. Tensions have been increasing in the normally calm north because of a border dispute between autonomous Puntland region and the breakaway republic of Somaliland.