Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited Las Anod on Friday, the administrative capital of the Sool region, a city claimed by the breakaway Somaliland region. This is the first visit by a sitting Somali president to the city in more than forty years.
This trip comes in a context of increased diplomatic tensions in the Horn of Africa, after the official recognition of Somaliland by Israel, a decision strongly contested by Mogadishu.
President Mohamud attended the inauguration of the president of the new Northeast State, created last August and which became the sixth federated state of Somalia.
Somalia is a federation made up of semi-autonomous states, some of which have complex relations with the central government. The Northeast State brings together the regions of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn, territories also claimed by Somaliland.
Somaliland had controlled Las Anod since 2007, but was forced to withdraw in 2023, after violent clashes between Somaliland security forces and local militias of the SSC‑Khatumo movement, a local armed group that rose up against the administration of Hargeisa with the aim of joining the Somali federation.
According to the Somali presidency, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's visit demonstrates "the federal government's desire to strengthen national unity and ensure the territorial integrity of Somalia".
Somaliland reacted quickly: Las Anod is part of Somaliland. We remain committed to resolving our differences through dialogue and peaceful means", said Khadar Hussein Abdi, Minister in the Somaliland Presidency. He added: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud must first resolve his country's internal issues... The recognition of Somaliland is today a reality and no one can question it. "
