The protesters are demanding that Somaliland hand over control of the town to Puntland and accusing the security forces of failing to end insecurity in the town.
Protesters spokesman Adan Jamak Ogle said, “Somaliland forcefully occupied Laskanude and failed to secure it. We are demanding that they leave.”
“We cannot tolerate the continued bloodshed of civilians.”
A police spokesman did not immediately respond to a call requesting comment.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991, but has not achieved widespread international recognition of its independence. The region has been mostly peaceful while Somalia has been battling three decades of civil war.
Ahmed Elmi Osman Karsh, Puntland’s vice president, blamed the violence on security forces.
“What is being done by the Somaliland army is a genocide of civilians,” he said by phone.
