Somalia’s US-trained elite forces known as Danab have denied reports claiming some of its soldiers were killed in a conflict between locals and Somaliland forces in Las-Anod town in northern Somalia.
An article carried by BBC Somali Service reported that a rank official from Danab who travelled to Las-Anod to participate in the clashes was killed in heavy fighting this month.
The felled official was identified as Mohamed Aden Suleiman, who was commander of the 4th battalion of Somalia’s Danab Brigade.
In a statement, the Danab commander Ahmed Abdulahi Beeryare said Danab will remain fully committed to this objective and will not engage in any clan conflicts or clan-related affairs.
Beeryare said it is necessary to clarify that the individual referred to in recent reports, Mohamed Sulaiman, was a former officer within the SNA Danab who left in 2021 for personal reasons.
“We can confirm that he was not involved in any official capacity with the Danab Unit of the SNA at the time of his unfortunate demise in the ongoing fight in Las’anod,” the statement reads in part.
