Somaliland suspends dialogue with Somali federal government over Las Anod visit

Somaliland on Wednesday announced the suspension of all ongoing dialogue with the Federal Government of Somalia, citing the recent visit by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre to Las Anod in the SSC-Khaatumo region.

In a statement issued after an emergency cabinet meeting, Somaliland’s Information Minister Ahmed-Yasin Ali described the visit as “provocative and unlawful,” stating the decision to withdraw from talks would take effect from 16 April 2025.

Ali also claimed the Somali government’s recent release of prisoners was an attempt to divert attention from domestic challenges. He dismissed that the individuals released were prisoners of war but did not provide further details.

The Somali government defended the prime minister’s three-day visit, saying it aimed to promote unity and reconciliation following the months-long conflict in Las Anod, which left hundreds dead and displaced hundreds of thousands. The federal government has since recognised SSC-Khaatumo as a federal member administration, a move that directly prompted Somaliland’s decision to end the dialogue.

Talks between the two sides have taken place intermittently in recent years, with the most recent round held in Djibouti in December 2023 under the mediation of President Ismail Omar Guelleh. However, those talks broke down days later after Somaliland signed a controversial Memorandum of Understanding with Ethiopia, sparking a diplomatic rift between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.

Somalia views Somaliland as part of its sovereign territory, despite the region’s self-declared independence in 1991, a claim that has yet to receive international recognition.