According to The Times Atlas of the World and a map prepared by the United Nations Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia (UN-EUE), Arabsiyo is a town situated west of Hargeysa and east of Gebiley in northwest Somalia, which is also referred to as Somaliland (Times Atlas 1994, plate 87; UN-EUE Dec. 1994, 299). The UN-EUE map indicates that the town is in Habar Awal territory (ibid.). A December 1994 report prepared for the UN-EUE also situates Arabsiyo within the territory of the Habar Awal clan, and identifies the town as a place of refuge for internally displaced Habar Awal civilians (Bryden Dec. 1994, 269).

Although the fighting has displaced many civilians, a November 1995 UN-EUE report states that "rural populations from 'warring' clans manage to co-exist peacefully outside the theatre of conflict," and nowhere in Somaliland have hostilities caused "major 'blood feuds'," as has happened elsewhere in Somalia (Bryden Nov. 1995, 293).

A recent UN report stated that Iidagale (also Etigale, Idagalle) civilians have been returning to Hargeisa, and other civilians have been returning to Burao, despite the presence of mines (UN July 1996, 3). The same source also reported that a peace meeting involving the communities of Burao was continuing near the Ethiopian border (ibid.).

For additional information on the situation in Somaliland during 1995, including an analysis of the causes and consequences of the fighting, please consult the UN-EUE reports compiled in Information Session on Country Conditions on Somalia (pages 265-298), which is available at Regional Documentation Centres.

The attached documents, which are arranged in reverse chronological order for your convenience, provide additional analysis and information on fighting in Somaliland since the beginning of 1995. Please note that the attached documents do not always identify the combatants' clans when describing clashes between Somaliland government forces and rebel units. Some Garxajis, who consist of the 'Iidagale and the Habar Yonis clans (Bryden Feb. 1995, 273), see their fight as being against the Habar Awal clan instead of the Somaliland government(a perspective rejected by the government, which includes members from other clans (Bryden Dec. 1994, 267). For this reason the attachments include reports involving the government and rebel units even if no clan is identified.

For specific information on the situation in Burao in 1996, please consult Response to Information Request SML24463.E of 1 August 1996, which is also available at Regional Documentation Centres.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Bryden, Matt. 28 February 1995. Report of Trip to Cam Aboker and Rabasso Refugee Camps 17-19 February 1995. (Compiled in Documentation, Information and Research Branch (DIRB), Immigration and Refugee Board. Feb. 1996. "Information Session on Country Conditions on Somalia," p. 273)

_____. December 1994. Report on Mission to Somaliland 15/12/94 to 21/12/94. (Compiled in Documentation, Information and Research Branch (DIRB), Immigration and Refugee Board. Feb. 1996. "Information Session on Country Conditions on Somalia," p. 269)

The Times Atlas of the World. 1994. 9th ed. London: Times Books.

United Nations. July 1996. From Relief to Development in Somalia: Situation Report for the Period 1-15 July 1996. Nairobi: Office of the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Somalia.

United Nations Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia (UN-EUE). December 1994. "Northwest Somalia (Somaliland), Map 1." (Compiled in Documentation, Information and Research Branch (DIRB), Immigration and Refugee Board. Feb. 1996. "Information Session on Country Conditions on Somalia," p. 299)

United Nations.July 1996. From Relief to Development in Somalia: Situation Report for the Period 1-15 July 1996. Nairobi: Office of the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Somalia, p. 3.

Radio Hargeysa Voice of the Republic of Somaliland [Hargeysa, in Somali]. 22 May 1996. "Somalia: Radio Reports Somaliland Rebels Surrender." (FBIS-AFR-96-110 6 June 1996, pp. 6-7)

_____. 3 May 1996. "Somalia: Somaliland Disarmament Ceremony in Hargeysa Held 3 May." (FBIS-AFR-96-096 16 May 1996, p. 4)

Africa Confidential [London]. 16 February 1996. Vol. 37, No. 4. "Somaliland: Shrinking Horizons," pp. 5-6.

Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. January-February 1996. Vol. 8, No. 1. "Somaliland Court Sentences Three Men to Death," p. 21.

US Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Humanitarian Response, Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). 29 November 1995. Somalia(Complex Emergency. Washington, DC: USAID, pp. 1-2.

Radio Hargeysa Voice of the Republic of Somaliland [Hargeysa, in Somali]. 27 October 1995. "Somaliland: Forces Repulse Attack, Kill 35." (FBIS-AFR-95-215 7 Nov. 1995, p. 8)

Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. September-October 1995. Vol. 7, No. 5. "Somaliland Radio Reports Clashes with Militia on 15th August," p. 24.

Africa Confidential [London]. 22 September 1995. Vol. 36, No. 19. "Somaliland: Limited Powers." p. 8.

Radio Hargeysa Voice of the Republic of Somaliland [Hargeysa, in Somali]. 25 August 1995. "Somaliland Radio Reports Clashes with Militia." (FBIS-AFR-95-166 28 Aug. 1995, p. 16)

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 21 August 1995. "SNM Claims to Capture of Most of Hargeysa." (FBIS-AFR-95-162 22 Aug. 1995, pp. 5-6)

Radio Mogadishu Voice of the Masses of the Somali Republic [Clandestine, in Somali]. 20 August 1995. "SNM Claims Victories Against Egal's Forces." (FBIS-AFR-95-161 21 Aug. 1995, p. 11)

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 12 August 1995. "Hargeysa Airport Taken in 'All-Out War'." (FBIS-AFR-95-156 14 Aug. 1995, p. 10)

_____. 11 August 1995. "Fighting Continues Among Somaliland Factions." (FBIS-AFR-95-156 14 Aug. 1995, p. 9)

Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. July-August 1995. Vol. 7, No. 4. "Somaliland Troops Attack Rebels, Government Radio," p. 22.

US Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Humanitarian Response, Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). 7 July 1995. Somalia(Complex Emergency. Washington, DC: USAID, pp. 1-2.

Radio Hargeysa Voice of the Republic of Somaliland [Hargeysa, in Somali]. 20 June 1995. "Somaliland Forces Report 80 Rebels Killed." (FBIS-AFR-95-126 30 June 1995, p. 6)

Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. May-June 1995. Vol. 7, No. 3. "Answer from Opposition," p. 24.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 13 May 1995. No. 671. "Somaliland: Peace Committee," p. 3.

Agence France Presse [Paris, in English]. "UNHCR: Somaliland Citizens Flee to Border Camps." (FBIS-AFR-95-092 12 May 1995, p. 5)

Radio Hargeysa Voice of the Republic of Somaliland [Hargeysa, in Somali]. 19 April 1995. "Somaliland Vice President Reports Clashes in Burco." (FBIS-AFR-95-085 3 May 1995, p. 4)

The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 8 April 1995. No. 666. "Somaliland: Anti-Government Attack," p. 2.

Radio Hargeysa Voice of the Republic of Somaliland [Hargeysa, in Somali]. 6 April 1995. "Army Defeats Militia in Burco." (FBIS-AFR-95-075 19 Apr. 1995, p. 6)

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 5 April 1995. "Egal Opponent on Fresh Somaliland Battles." (FBIS-AFR-95-066 6 Apr. 1995, p. 4)

_____. 5 April 1996. "Egal Says Fighting 'Banditry'." (FBIS-AFR-95-066 6 Apr. 1995, pp. 4-5)

Radio Hargeysa Voice of the Republic of Somaliland [Hargeysa, in Somali]. 2 April 1995. "Somaliland Army Claims Success Against Militias." (FBIS-AFR-95-075 19 Apr. 1995, p. 6)

Africa Confidential [London]. 31 March 1995. Vol. 36, No. 7. "Somalia: Holding On in Somaliland," pp. 6-7.

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 31 March 1995. "Somaliland Rebel Leader Speaks Against Secession." (FBIS-AFR-95-064 4 Apr. 1995, p. 2)

Reuters. 30 March 1995. Christophe Farah. "About 60 Killed in Fighting in Northwestern Somalia." (NEXIS)

Agence France Presse [Paris, in English]. 29 March 1995. "Opposition Reports Heavy Fighting in Somaliland." (FBIS-AFR-95-061 30 Mar. 1995, p. 15)

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 29 March 1995. "Egal Comments on Burao Clashes." (FBIS-AFR-95-061 30 Mar. 1995, pp. 15-16)

The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 25 March 1995. No. 664. "Somaliland: The President's Strange Missive," p. 2.

Radio Hargeysa Voice of the Republic of Somaliland [Hargeysa, in Somali]. 19 March 1995. "Defense Ministry Says Army Repels Attack 19 Mar." (FBIS-AFR-95-059 28 Mar. 1995, p. 8)

Agence France Presse [Paris, in English]. 28 February 1995. "Rival Militia Clash in Somaliland." (FBIS-AFR-94-039 28 Feb. 1995, p. 3)

Radio Hargeysa Voice of the Republic of Somaliland [Hargeysa, in Somali]. 5 February 1995. "Somaliland Subclan Negotiates Surrender." (FBIS-AFR-95-034 21 Feb. 1995, p. 7)

Africa Confidential [London]. 6 January 1995. Vol. 36, No. 1. "Somalia: Aydeed's Dilemma," pp. 6-7.