By Hafsa Mursal

Somaliland Police Force in Sanaag region have on Monday launched an operation to arrest non-Somali landers in the region, especially those from the South West State of Somalia.

Since the deadline given by the Somaliland government for them to evacuate the region has come to an end.

“The people whose Nationality isn’t Somaliland and reside in this region should evacuate peacefully just like the ones before them did and failure to do so, they will be apprehended by the Law” said Sanaag regional immigration Chief Major Said Egeh.

The deputy governor and acting governor of Sanaag region, Mohamed Khalif Nur, said the Somaliland government’s mandate for evicting communities in the region has expired, and they have orders to arrest those who remain in the region.

“The 14 days were due yesterday. Today our duty is to arrest anyone who is not a citizen of Somaliland or a person who is not in this country legally, you have a National duty to arrest anyone who is not a citizen of Somaliland.” said Khalif.

All businesses in Erigavo which were believed to be owned by people from south western region were closed today, some owners are to have already fled, with some still believed to be hiding in the region.

The breakaway Somaliland state had two weeks ago deported hundreds of people believed to be from Southern Somalia accusing them of being an impediment to the security and stability of the country after days of serial and sustained spates of killing occasioned in Las canood.

The evictions sparked public outrage across the World with the United Nations and a Consortium of NGOs weighing in and calling on Somaliland authorities to respect the rights of the people to live and work in every part of the World.

Somalia prime minister Mohamed Hussein Roble also took a swipe at Somaliland government accusing them of orchestrating a tiff between Somali people; urging them to uphold the dignity of the people.

However, the Somaliland government defended its decision to evict residents from southern Somalia saying the move was motivated by security concerns.

In a statement seemingly reacting to Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble’s lambasting of the deportation, Somaliland said they were acting in the interest while accusing the PM of overreach.

“Expelling Somalis from a Somali territory is shameful, ugly, and dishonoring,” he said.

“Ordering people who have been peacefully trading to leave for simply originally coming from the southern regions is unfortunate and will be recorded by history.”