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Africa Horn

Responses to Somali’s new Northeast Regional State

2025-08-03

Somali Government Endorses New Northeast Regional State After Historic Las Anod Conference
[ShabelleMedia] Somalia’s federal government has officially endorsed the newly formed Northeast Somali Regional State, following a landmark conference held in Las Anod that transitioned the interim SSC-Khatumo into a permanent federal member state.

Now we’ll know what it is when it shows up in news reports, though it’s not at all clear to me why they did it.

At a ceremony in Las Anod on Friday, Interior Minister Ali Yusuf Ali Hoosh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the fledgling regional administration. He pledged increased federal aid designed to strengthen local governance and deliver vital services to the community.

Minister Hoosh described the formation of the Northeast Regional State as a major step towards national unity and political stability, highlighting the importance of cooperation between federal and regional authorities.

The three-day conference, which concluded on Wednesday, brought together elders, politicians, and civil society leaders from the Sool, Sanaag, and Ayn areas. Attendees unanimously agreed to establish the new federal member state, naming Las Anod as its capital.

The meeting formally dissolved the SSC-Khatumo interim government and adopted a new constitution, solidifying the region’s integration within Somalia’s federal system. The declaration stressed local ownership and resolution of longstanding disputes through inclusive dialogue.

The establishment of the Northeast Regional State represents a significant change in Somalia’s political landscape, particularly amid competing territorial claims from Somaliland

...Republic of Somaliland is an unrecognised sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, recognised internationally as a de jure part of Somalia. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden with approximately 5.7 million residents as of 2021. The capital and largest city is Hargeisa. The government regards itself as the successor state to British Somaliland, which united from 1960 to 1991 with the Trust Territory of Somaliland (the former Italian Somaliland) to form the Somali Republic. Under the Siad Barre regime, Somaliadestroyed ninety percent of Hargeisa Per international law, once you're in, you gotta stay in, no matter how bad it smells....
The move is expected to boost collaboration between the federal government and local authorities while presenting new challenges in Somalia’s ongoing state-building efforts.

Puntland Condemns New Northeastern State as Threat to Regional Stability
[Garowe] The Puntland
...a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998. Puntland and the equally autonomous Somaliland seem to have avoided the clan rivalries and warlordism that have typified the rest of Somalia, which puts both places high on the list for Islamic subversion...
regional administration has strongly rejected the recently formed Northeastern regional administration, claiming jurisdiction over the northern Somali regions of Sool, Sanaag, and Buuhoodle.

Speaker of the Puntland Parliament, Abdirisaq Ahmed Mohamed (Qaraaje), described the new entity as a short-sighted political project aimed at sowing discord among communities traditionally united in defending their territories.

“It is regrettable to see attempts to pit communities who have jointly defended their lands against common challenges. We will closely monitor the operations of this administration established in Las Anod. Sanaag region has never been ruled by an externally imposed authority,” Qaraaje said during a parliamentary session in Garoowe.

He further noted that Puntland had previously recognized the SSC-Khaatumo administration due to the wartime circumstances then prevailing, but now views the emergence of Waqooyi Bari as a direct assault on Puntland’s unity.

Qaraaje also accused the Federal Government of Somalia of trying to fragment the country by encouraging regional divisions, warning that such moves risk igniting conflict among the Somali people.

Somaliland denounces creation of new Northeastern State administration as illegal
[Garowe] The Somaliland government on Saturday strongly condemned the recently announced Northeastern State administration based in Lasanod, calling it illegitimate and a direct threat to the territorial integrity of Somaliland.

In an extraordinary cabinet meeting held in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s Council of Ministers issued a statement rejecting the new administration and reaffirmed that the regions of Sool, Sanaag, and Togdheer remain an integral part of Somaliland’s territory. The cabinet also adopted firm decisions aimed at addressing the emerging political tensions.

Speaking to the press, Information Minister Ahmed Yasin Sheikh Ali Ayanle said Somaliland’s borders were established at independence in 1960, before its union with Somalia, and that the people of the contested regions had fully participated in the formation of the Somaliland state three decades ago.

The government accused Somalia’s federal authorities of instigating the creation of the new regional entity to influence upcoming national elections. It is alleged that arms and international aid meant for stabilization were being diverted to escalate the conflict in Sool and Sanaag.

Despite the tensions, the Somaliland government said it remains open to peaceful dialogue with local communities in eastern Sool in an effort to end the conflict in Lasanod. The information minister noted that peacebuilding efforts in parts of Sanaag had already yielded progress.

Somaliland’s cabinet concluded by affirming its readiness to defend its territory against any attempts at division and dismissed the new Northeastern State administration as unrepresentative of the local population.

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