On Saturday, a brief but intense disruption occurred in the Somali parliament after federal lawmaker Hassan Abdi Ismail referred to legislators representing Somaliland as “internally displaced persons” (IDPs).
The comment, perceived as derogatory, incited a heated reaction among lawmakers, sparking tensions and causing an immediate halt to parliamentary proceedings.
Some members expressed outrage over the remark, highlighting the sensitivity of the issue and the ongoing political complexities surrounding Somaliland’s status.
Somaliland, a self-declared independent region, is not internationally recognized as separate from Somalia, and such remarks underscore the fragile dynamics within the Somali political landscape.