Hargeisa, Somaliland — Somaliland’s Minister of Information sharply criticized the Federal Government of Somalia on Saturday, denouncing its reported move to establish a “North-Eastern State” in Las Anod as a “direct assault on our sovereignty.”
Speaking during a press briefing in the capital, Hargeisa, the minister condemned what he described as Mogadishu’s attempt to undermine Somaliland’s territorial integrity amid ongoing tensions in the Sool region. Las Anod, the epicenter of fierce clashes since early 2023, has remained a flashpoint between Somaliland forces and local factions seeking to align with Somalia’s federal system.
“This so-called creation of a ‘North-Eastern State’ is a reckless provocation. It violates the will of the people of Somaliland, disregards historical realities, and escalates an already volatile situation,” stated the minister.
The minister also raised alarm over international discussions around lifting the long-standing United Nations arms embargo on Somalia. He warned that such a move could exacerbate conflict in the region and embolden extremist groups like al-Shabaab.
“Removing the arms embargo on Somalia risks triggering a civil war. It would hand terrorist groups unchecked access to weapons, destabilizing the Horn of Africa and threatening regional and international peace,” he stated.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, remains internationally unrecognized but has maintained de facto autonomy with its own government, institutions, and security apparatus. However, the recent unrest in Las Anod has reignited a fierce territorial and political contest between Hargeisa and Mogadishu.
The Federal Government of Somalia has yet to formally respond to the minister’s remarks. Observers warn that rising tensions could derail ongoing regional stabilization efforts and undermine fragile political progress across Somalia.