Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the decision by the Crisis Group to place Somaliland on its March 2023 Conflict Risk Alert, in response to concerns about escalating violence in the Sool region, what assessment they have made of the current security situation in Somaliland.

The UK is closely monitoring violence in Las Anod. We assess that there are risks of further escalation and instability unless a ceasefire is upheld and a peaceful resolution reached. We are working with partners to press all parties to end the fighting. The UK joined UN statements on 7 and 14 February that urged both sides to prevent civilian casualties, allow unfettered humanitarian access and engage in dialogue. On 28 February, the UK issued a joint statement with Qatar, Somalia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and US that called for de-escalation. The UK-supported Start Fund is providing support via Oxfam to households displaced by the violence.