North Eastern State Blocks Reopening of Road to Somaliland, Demands Political Settlement

LAS ANOD — The North Eastern State administration has rejected the reopening of the road connecting Somaliland and the North Eastern State, following reports that Somaliland had taken new measures related to the movement of vehicles and troops.

The North Eastern State Security Minister said vehicles and troops sent from Somaliland were stopped on the road, and made clear that the administration would not allow the road to be opened without a resolution to the political dispute between the parties.

The minister was quoted as saying, “When you return to Somalia, we will open the road for you,” adding that the vehicles and troops that had been sent were detained.

The move comes as movement between Somaliland and the North Eastern State had remained suspended since the 2023 Goojacade clashes, which marked a turning point in relations between Hargeisa and the communities of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn.

A Deepening Divide

The road closure reflects the broader political reality that has taken shape since the North Eastern State was formally established as Somalia’s sixth federal member state in August 2025, with Las Anod as its administrative capital.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited Las Anod in January 2026 for the inauguration of the state’s president, the first visit by a sitting Somali president to the city in over 40 years. During that visit, the president affirmed that the North Eastern State was officially part of the Federal Republic of Somalia and that the region could not be separated from the country.

Federal officials have also announced plans to develop infrastructure in the region, including a proposed new port in Las Khorey with support from Türkiye. Despite these developments, the North Eastern State has not received direct federal funding for its troops, parliament, or development projects, a source of growing frustration among some officials. The road closure is the latest indication that the administration is willing to assert its autonomy from Hargeisa on its own terms.

Irro’s Washington Recognition Push

The road closure incident comes as Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) conducts a high-profile visit to Washington aimed at advancing his campaign for international recognition. Irro arrived in Washington on September 5 for meetings aimed at strengthening diplomatic, security and economic ties, and advancing Somaliland’s campaign for recognition following Israel’s decision in December 2025 to become the first country to formally recognise Somaliland.

During his visit, Irro met with Senator Ted Cruz, who has become one of the leading voices in Washington calling for Somaliland’s recognition. In a post on X, Cruz said Somaliland had established itself as a “reliable partner” for the United States on counterterrorism and protecting shipping around the Horn of Africa, adding: “I am committed to securing American recognition of Somaliland’s sovereignty.”

However, Irro himself acknowledged that Washington has not made any commitment to official recognition. In an interview during his visit, he stated that talks with the American side are ongoing, but he “cannot say that there is currently any American promise regarding recognition.” A local source told Politico that “there is no change” in American policy towards Somaliland, and President Donald Trump said in December 2025 that he was not ready to recognize Somaliland.

A State Department report to Congress in June 2026 reaffirmed that Washington recognizes “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, which includes the region of Somaliland.” The report acknowledged Somaliland’s “strategic location near Yemen and the Bab al-Mandab Strait” but subordinated that value to Mogadishu’s position. A congressional source told Middle East Eye that there had “never” been a sign that Trump would go through with recognition.

Reconciliation Efforts Continue

The road closure comes as President Irro has signalled renewed willingness to resolve the Las Anod dispute through dialogue. President Irro has established a peace committee and spoken of the deep family and social ties between the communities of Sool and Somaliland, saying “we are related by blood and kinship.” North Eastern State President Abdikadir Ahmed Aw-Ali (Firdhiye) has also emphasised peaceful relations with Somaliland as neighbouring administrations.

However, the two sides hold fundamentally different visions for the future of Las Anod. Somaliland views reconciliation as potentially leading to the reintegration of the Sool region into its political framework, while the North Eastern State is committed to remaining a federal member state of Somalia.

Critical Note

The North Eastern State’s refusal to reopen the road to Somaliland is a reminder that the dispute over the region’s political status remains unresolved, despite recent peace overtures from both sides. The road closure is not simply a security measure. It is a statement of political position: that the North Eastern State will not normalise relations with Hargeisa while the question of Las Anod’s future remains contested.

The timing is notable. President Irro’s Washington visit was intended to present Somaliland as a stable, coherent state worthy of international recognition. The road closure and the ongoing dispute over Las Anod undercut that narrative. Somaliland’s recognition pitch rests on the argument that it exercises uncontested authority over its territory. The North Eastern State’s actions, and the parallel secessionist movement in Awdal, suggest otherwise.

For communities on both sides who depend on trade and movement for their livelihoods, the closure imposes economic costs that will be felt most acutely by ordinary people. The deeper issue remains the fundamental disagreement over Las Anod’s political future. Peace overtures and expressions of brotherhood cannot bridge that divide on their own. Until the two administrations can agree on a formula that addresses the status question, incidents like the road closure will continue to punctuate any reconciliation process.