Somali prime minister confirms planned visit to Las Anod

Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Sunday confirmed plans to visit Las Anod, the administrative capital of the federally recognised SSC-Khatumo interim administration, following days of speculation.

Speaking during a handover ceremony at the Ministry of Defence in Mogadishu, Barre said the visit aims to strengthen cooperation with local authorities and communities. He emphasised that the trip is not intended to harm or politically undermine any region.

“This is not a politically motivated move meant to divide or damage any state,” Barre said, in an apparent response to warnings from the self-declared Somaliland administration, which claims Las Anod as part of its territory.

The prime minister said the visit would be conducted in coordination with the leadership of SSC-Khatumo and his office, but he did not provide a specific date.

The SSC-Khatumo interim administration was officially established in 2023 following months of armed conflict between local forces and Somaliland troops, which ended in the latter’s withdrawal from Las Anod. The Federal Government of Somalia subsequently recognised SSC-Khatumo as an interim regional administration. However, Somaliland continues to claim the area, and intermittent clashes have been reported.

Barre’s announcement was widely welcomed by Somali officials and citizens who see the visit as a significant step in reinforcing national unity and supporting the region’s return to federal governance.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi described the planned trip as “historic,” noting it would mark the first official visit by a Somali prime minister to the region.

“It is a milestone that the Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia is making history by becoming the first to officially visit SSC-Khatumo. This visit stands as a testament to the unity and cohesion of the nation and closes the chapter on secessionist aspirations,” Fiqi said.