Nine Somaliland soldiers lost their lives in clashes with an armed militia around the mountainous region of Ga’an Libaah.
Seventeen other soldiers were injured in the incident.
Reports from the region indicate that the armed militia has been mobilizing and equipping its recruits with weapons for a while.
Gen. Mohamed Aden Saqadhi Dabagale, the Commissioner of Somaliland police, confirmed the latest developments.
He added that the deaths and injuries were the result of an ambush by the armed militia on Friday.