Scores of people have been killed in clashes between the security forces and clan members in Somalia’s Laas Canood last weekend, prompting UN calls for an investigation into the skirmishes.Laas Canood is in the Sool and Sanaag regions of western Somalia, which are claimed by the autonomous enclave of Somaliland and the semi-autonomous state of Puntland.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called on the Somali authorities to ensure an independent, effective, and impartial investigation of the incidents which began on 5 February.

“At least 20 people have been killed, and an estimated 119 others injured in Laas Canood – among them children – in fighting between the security forces and members of a local clan,” said Türk. 

“I am concerned by reports that the clashes are continuing today with additional claims of new casualties” Turk added.

“These potentially unlawful killings come just a month after at least 20,000 people were displaced by clashes in Laas Canood, and could contribute to further displacement, compounding the already fragile humanitarian situation in the region” the UN official was quoted in a statement as saying.