Hundreds of people lined and cheerfully chanted in the main streets of Buhodle town as two prominent Dhulbahante elders arrived home after months of absence.
King Abdillahi Ahmed Ali and Chief Haji Mohamud Ammay received a warm welcome on their return from Mogadishu where they took part in the Somali elders conference.
For two months 135 traditional elders from across Somalia have been meeting in Mogadishu to choose the National Constituent Assembly (NCA), a key step in the process to bring an end to a transitional government in the country.
Following the completion of the transitional period, many of the elders have returned to their original home towns.
These group of elders were accompanied by forces from the Puntland region where they were transit. According to Somali Channel, a Somali television station based in UK, the elders have agreed with Puntland to bring the disputed town under their control.
Buhodle happens to be the home of former SSC rebel commander Suleiman Isse Ahmed ‘Hagaltosie’, who is currently a minister in the Silanyo administration. In an effort to quell up revolts President Ahmed Silanyo appointed him as the minister of Rehabilitation and Rural Development. While small armed groups still remain loyal to him, he has little influence in the town that will probably change hand again.
Many in Somaliland believe his appointment will have little effect if nothing on the current confrontations between armed groups in the restive region of Buhodle and Sool.
