PM Hamse’s Las Anod Visit Draws Public Support and Somaliland Condemnation

LAASCAANOOD — Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has completed an evening walk through the streets of Las Anod, mingling with residents and visiting commercial areas, as part of his official visit to the administrative capital of the North Eastern State. The walk, which drew large crowds of enthusiastic residents, was met with chants of support and celebration, underscoring the warm reception the Prime Minister has received since his arrival on Saturday.

The Prime Minister, accompanied by federal ministers, North Eastern State leader Abdikadir Ahmed Aw Ali, and local media, traversed key areas of the city including business districts and the main thoroughfare. Residents lined the streets, greeting the delegation with cheers and expressions of solidarity. The visit is part of a broader engagement by the federal government to mark the first anniversary of the North Eastern State’s establishment and to launch development projects in the region.

However, the visit has drawn sharp condemnation from Somaliland, which claims the Sool region as part of its self-declared territory. In a strongly worded statement issued Sunday, Somaliland described the Prime Minister’s visit as “a provocative step” that threatens regional stability and undermines ongoing peace efforts in the Horn of Africa.

“This visit does not contribute to peace and reconciliation, but rather poses a threat to the security and stability of the region,” the statement read.

Somaliland’s Strong Condemnation

Somaliland accused the Federal Government of taking steps to consolidate its influence in Las Anod, which it considers an integral part of its territory. The breakaway region’s authorities called on the African Union, IGAD, the United Nations, and the international community to intervene against what it described as unilateral actions by the Federal Government.

“The issues at hand can only be resolved through dialogue and a diplomatic process,” the statement said, while also reaffirming Somaliland’s commitment to peace talks based on mutual respect. However, it warned that it would take “any legal action” necessary to defend what it termed its sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.

The visit comes against a backdrop of shifting political allegiances that have further complicated the regional dynamic. In recent months, four North Eastern State parliamentarians defected to Somaliland, with the breakaway region framing the defections as a sign of growing support for its cause. Earlier, North Eastern State parliamentarian Fahiima Quuje received a celebratory welcome in Hargeisa after her defection, which Somaliland officials hailed as a significant propaganda victory. The North Eastern State parliament subsequently voted to strip Quuje of her parliamentary immunity on charges of “national betrayal.”

Federal Government’s Engagement and Development Agenda

Prime Minister Barre’s visit is part of a broader federal government strategy to extend state services and development projects into the North Eastern State. Federal ministries are expected to launch public services during the visit, including digital civil registration and voter registration initiatives aimed at strengthening governance and democratic participation.

The Prime Minister has also held meetings with regional leadership and community representatives, discussing the implementation of development projects and the federal government’s commitment to the region. The eagerly anticipated visit has been framed by federal officials as a demonstration of unity and progress.

However, the visit also exposes the deeply contested nature of the region’s political status. Somaliland has previously warned that Mogadishu’s recognition of the North Eastern State risks escalating tensions and potentially triggering civil war. The federal government has not formally responded to these criticisms, though the visit itself signals a continued commitment to integrating the region into Somalia’s federal framework.

The Prime Minister’s inaugural official visit to the region was previously announced as part of the federal government’s broader engagement strategy, and his presence in Las Anod marks a significant moment in the ongoing struggle for influence in the Sool region.

Critical Note

While the Prime Minister’s visit has been celebrated by residents of Las Anod and framed by federal officials as a milestone in state-building, the underlying political reality remains fraught with tension and unresolved grievances. Somaliland’s condemnation, while predictable, reflects the depth of the territorial dispute and the absence of a credible mechanism for resolving competing claims. The federal government’s engagement with the North Eastern State, while expanding services and infrastructure, does little to address the fundamental political questions at the heart of the conflict. The enthusiastic public reception for the Prime Minister, while genuine, does not necessarily translate into broad consensus on the region’s political future, and clan dynamics continue to shape allegiances in ways that defy simple narratives of federal consolidation. The international community’s silence on the escalating rhetoric between Mogadishu and Hargeisa is increasingly untenable; without a framework for dialogue that includes all stakeholders, the region risks sliding toward renewed conflict that would undo the fragile gains of recent years. The federal government would be well advised to pursue a strategy that balances development with inclusive political engagement, while Somaliland’s threats of unilateral action do little to advance the cause of peace. The people of Las Anod deserve more than symbolic visits and rhetorical condemnations. They deserve a political process that offers a path to durable stability and genuine representation.