On Saturday, a group of prisoners recently released from Las Anod detention facilities arrived in Hargeisa, marking a contentious development in the ongoing dispute between Somaliland and the SSC-Khaatumo administration.
While the exact number of returnees is unspecified, this follows the earlier release of 25 Somaliland-affiliated prisoners by SSC-Khaatumo on April 15, 2025, which was framed as a “goodwill gesture” during Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s visit to Las Anod.
The handover has deepened tensions, with Somaliland condemning the initial transfer of prisoners to Mogadishu as a violation of international law and demanding oversight by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Somaliland authorities insist any prisoner exchanges must adhere to formal protocols, accusing Somalia and SSC-Khaatumo of political manipulation.
The return of these individuals to Hargeisa may signal unilateral action by Somaliland, as no coordinated exchange has been publicly acknowledged.
Earlier reports indicated that SSC-Khaatumo still holds hundreds of Somaliland prisoners, while Hargeisa detains dozens from SSC-controlled areas. The situation remains volatile, with Somaliland halting peace talks with Somalia over perceived sovereignty violations.
The prisoners were captured during the 2023 conflict in Las Anod, where SSC-Khaatumo forces defeated Somaliland and later gained recognition as a federal member state by Somalia. Somaliland rejects SSC-Khaatumo’s legitimacy and insists Las Anod remains its territory.