The storm has displaced nearly 12 000 people and destroyed dozens of homes.

The cyclone formed in the Gulf of Aden and made landfall in Somaliland and Puntland, where last week troops were involved in deadly clashes.

Norwegian Refugee Council regional director Nigel Tricks says its the worst storm to hit the region in years.

Sixteen people are known to have died in Somaliland where poor roads and communications prevent the authorities from getting full details.

Two people had died in Puntland.

The 40 fisherman unaccounted for were at sea when the storm struck.

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Somaliland President Mohammed Abdullahi has called on elders and civil society from both sides to mediate.

Things are quieter today as both sides shelter from the rain and bury their dead.

Somaliland and Puntland have been at odds for  decade over the border region of Sool .

Even the inhabitants in the area are divided about where their allegiance lies.

Last week Somaliland troops took the village of Tuka Raq near the Puntland capital Garowe.

In the ensuing fighting three Somaliland soldiers have died and Puntland report losing 18.

More than five dozen have been wounded on both sides

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It’s  the second attack in weeks after five years of inactivity in this seaway patrolled by a European Union naval force.

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United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations which coordinates the management of merchant ships and yachts in the Gulf of Aden area says a dhow en route to Bosasso from Dubai has been hijacked in the vicinity of Socotra Island.

The  coordinating body cannot confirm the location of the vessel, which identified as Al Kausar.

An investigation into exactly what happened is underway.

The vessel attacked by Somali pirates is understood to be heading towards the Somali coast.

Somali pirates seized an oil tanker last  month but released it after a clash with a marine force from neighboring Puntland.

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The semi autonomous region of  Puntland says it will not heed neighboring Somalia’s ban on the import of the mildly narcotic khat from Kenya.

Daily flights of the leaf have continued despite the conflict that’s torn the Horn of Africa country.

From today, Somalia’s barred these Kenyan aircraft  from its airspace.

Puntland’s saying the planes can land there and trade across its open borders with Somalia.

Fearful that the donkey population is being rapidly depleted, Niger’s banned the export of these animals.

Donkeys are a vital part of the rural economy used for transporting goods.

The demand for donkeys for export has meant that their price has increased three fold in recent months.

One animal can now fetch up to $150.

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