Friday April 18, 2025
Hargeisa (HOL) — Somaliland government has accused the Federal Government of Somalia of involvement in Thursday's fighting between its forces and the SSC-Khaatumo administration in the Dhuumadare area of the Sanaag region.
In a press statement released Friday, Somaliland's Ministry of Defense claimed that Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, who recently visited Las Anod, played a role in orchestrating the violence, allegedly to destabilize Somaliland.
"These actions pose a serious threat to regional stability and violate the principles of sovereignty and peaceful coexistence," the statement said. "While Somaliland remains a pillar of peace and cooperation in the Horn of Africa, incitement to conflict undermines ongoing efforts toward regional stability."
The ministry reaffirmed Somaliland's commitment to defending what it considers its territorial integrity while calling on the international community to intervene and take measures to prevent further escalation.
In response, the SSC-Khaatumo administration released a statement Thursday night, accusing Somaliland forces of attacking nomadic communities in the region. The administration reiterated its commitment to defending its people and territory.
The clashes come amid heightened tensions over control of the Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn (SSC) regions—areas owned by the SSC-Khaatumo administration but claimed by both Somaliland and Puntland. The conflict has reignited in the wake of Prime Minister Barre's historic visit to Las Anod, the administrative capital of SSC-Khaatumo, where he pledged support for the interim administration and inaugurated development projects.
Fighting between the two sides has intensified since early 2023, following a popular uprising in Las Anod that led to Somaliland's withdrawal from the city.