Below is an article published by Somaliland Press

LAS ANOD — Somaliland’s Minister of Interior, Mohamed Nuur Arale, warned on Sunday against outside interference and the meddling of its internal affairs including the tribal conference in Taleeh, Sool region.

“Somaliland is known for its peace stance, tranquility and cohesion. Even though it has transformed from a clan-based system to a multiparty democracy, we want to make it clear that the government supports any and all tribal gatherings in the country,” he said while speaking to BBC-Somali Services. But reiterated that “meetings should be devoted to addressing and promoting peace, reconciliations, consultations and development policies”.The remarks are seen as a warning to Somali politicians from neighboring Somalia and few pro-Union individuals from the Diaspora who are said to be attending the meeting. He said they will be held accountable if they hijack the Dhulbahante-clan conference dubbed Khatuumo Two.

The minister made it clear that the government was ready to protect its judicial sovereignty and there was no compromising on that. “Regarding security disturbances in Sool, the government will be strict in guaranteeing public order and the sovereignty of the Republic of Somaliland,” he said.

He further called upon politicians from Sool province who are taking part in the Taleeh gathering to refrain from any act that will destabilize the region.

Mr. Arale said loud and clear that his government will not tolerate any opportunists to disrupt the meeting and instigate violence between tribes in the region.

“We do not have security forces guarding the conference but they stand ready just outside town to respond immediately should opportunist individuals disrupt the meeting and try to harm our tranquility” he noted.

The Taleeh conference raised some eyebrows in Hargeisa since members of the brutal clan militant accused of having ties with al-shabab, known as SSC, were invited. It is a Somaliland customary for the government and its forces not to interfere in tribal meetings.The Somaliland army and the SSC tribal militia clashed a number of times in Sool region. The group ceased its violent attacks after their extremist leader, Mr. Suleman Ahmed, was detained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in April 2011. Short period later the group collapsed after its financiers, mainly based in Ohio and Minnesota, discovered the FBI was cracking down on terror financiers. The FBI learnt how groups based in the mentioned cities were chaneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to violent groups such as SSC and al-Shabaab. This led to U.S. banks to stop handling wire transfer services known as hawalas to Somalia. More recently, Sunrise Community Banks, a group of independently managed banks that include Franklin Bank, acted similarly. Somalia protested the decision saying many people rely on monthly remittance for survival.