Battle of Tukaraq
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Second round of clashes: 15–24 May 2018
changes Tukaraq captured by Somaliland National Army[1]
| Battle of Tukaraq | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Puntland–Somaliland dispute | |||||||||
  Tukaraq Tukaraq location in Somaliland | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 3 captured as POW | 140 captured as POW | ||||||||
|
200–300 in total 2,700 families displaced | |||||||||
The Battle of Tukaraq in 2018 saw the Somaliland National Army engage Puntland forces in Tukaraq, a town in the eastern Sool region, on the road between the regional capitals of Las Anod and Garowe. The ensuing heavy clashes resulted in Somaliland ousting the Puntland army from the town. The battle was significant as it was the first time both forces clashed directly.[2][3]
The town is situated 86km west of Garowe, the capital of Puntland, a federal member state in northern Somalia. Up until the battle the town was a customs point operated by Puntland. Somaliland had earlier captured Tukaraq from Khaatumo State forces in 2012, who subsequently fled to Ethiopia. Somaliland forces then later withdrew from the town, with Puntland assuming control. Puntland and Somaliland have previously clashed in the outskirts of Tukaraq in 2011.[4][5][6]
Somalia's president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed visited the Puntland region earlier, hoping to improve strained relations between the federal member states of Puntland and Galmudug and the federal government. He was also asked by traditional elders from the Tukaraq area to visit the contested area and unconfirmed reports suggested that he intended to visit the contested Sool region.[7][8][9]
Battle
Early in the morning on 8 January Somaliland forces launched an offensive to capture the town. Heavy clashes ensued between Somaliland and the defending Puntland forces, with its defensive positions being overran and the town captured.[10]
