London BBC World Service “Focus on Africa” program (in English) — 1515 GMT

[BBC Focus on Africa host Chris Bickerton] It appears that fighting has broken out in earnest between government forces in breakaway Somaliland and militias of the Gahargi group, loyal to ousted Somaliland leader Abdirahman Tur. Since he was deposed and replaced by Mohamed Egal, Abdirahman Tur has been in Mogadishu trying to strike up an alliance with General Aidid’s SNA [Somali National Alliance]. Well, last week, the Gahargis declared war on Mohamed Egal. Speculation was that the flashpoint would be the town of Burao, east of the capital, Hargeysa, and so it would seem. Our Somaliland reporter, Hussein Ali Noor, sent us this fax:

The long feared war between the Somaliland Government and the militia opposed to it began with great vigor in the early hours of yesterday morning in the city of Burao. A Defense Ministry statement released in Hargeysa yesterday evening said that a strong militia force supported by tanks and gun-mounted vehicles launched an offensive against the government’s Army garrison. According to the statement, the government Army defended its positions and repulsed the attacks.

At about midday yesterday, the government forces reportedly began their own offensive. The statement said the militia forces were driven back to the fringes of the western part of the town, and fighting continued late into the afternoon. The statement gave no definite figures for casualties but said heavy losses in lives and captured weapons were inflicted on the militia. I made contacts with Burao by radio phone yesterday and was told that many civilians had left the town and government forces controlled the main strategic points around Burao.

[Bickerton] That was a faxed report from Hussein Ali Noor in Hargeysa; but what began last year as trouble with a few militiamen in Hargeysa has escalated into something akin to all-out war between Mohamed Egal’s government and his opponents. On the line to Hargeysa, Raggi Omar asked Mohamed Egal what his latest information was about the situation at Burao.

[Begin recording]

[Egal] According to information I have, you know, about two-thirds of the town are in the hands of the government forces, and they are continuing pushing the rebellion back all the time, but the situation is still fluid, and we hope that within, you know, the next 24 hours we will have a much clearer picture of, you know, the situation than we have now.

[Omar] Now, this offensive as reported to have started yesterday morning, just exactly who is behind it? Is it a concerted effort by one clan or several clans, or one militia, or what?

[Egal] No, it is a small group. For the last one month the clans that live in Burao, you know, have been working together, you know, and they were in agreement, you know, that they should prevent any war taking place, or any fighting taking place within their town. Then (?presently), you know, these full Sudans who according to my knowledge were not speaking for anybody, have made this announcement that they were going to start, you know, fighting, you know, against the government, you know, as soon as possible, and that unfortunately, you know, has been a very big setback, you know, to the peace initiative between the residents, you know, of the Burao town and now…. [pauses] Then suddenly yesterday at seven o’clock, you know, Mire and his group have started an offensive, you know, against security forces.

[Omar] Who is Mire exactly, this man who has been launching the fight against your forces?

[Egal] Mire is the man who used to be a minister in Abdirahman Tur’s government. Now, he is supposed to be the military commander of the rebellion, you know, of the small group that has been rebelling against the secession of Somaliland. He claims to be, sometimes, you know, Aidid’s lieutenant sometimes, you know, he says that he is acting independently. He is a mercenary, that what he is.

[End recording]

_{FBIS-AFR-95-061, 30 Mar. 1995, pp. 15-16}