Wednesday April 30, 2025
Garowe (HOL) — Puntland and Somaliland on Wednesday carried out a rare prisoner swap involving 26 detainees without the involvement of any third-party mediator, according to a statement from Puntland authorities.
The exchange marked the first between the two sides since 2018.
According to the statement, prisoners were exchanged between the cities of Garowe and Hargeisa, with 13 detainees released by each side.
Puntland hailed the move as a demonstration of mutual understanding and a joint commitment to resolving humanitarian and political concerns. Officials noted the agreement could serve as a foundation for future cooperation between the two administrations, which have long had strained relations.
"This exchange shows the importance of dialogue in addressing sensitive issues," the statement read, adding that the deal was motivated by a shared desire to reduce tensions and respond to humanitarian needs.
The exchange is the first since 2018, when Puntland and Somaliland last swapped prisoners following clashes near Tukaraq, a town located approximately 70 kilometres from Garowe. That conflict highlighted ongoing territorial disputes in the Sool region.
Several of the prisoners released Wednesday sustained injuries during the 2023 fighting in Sool. Some were left permanently disabled as a result of the conflict, which erupted in early 2023 after residents of Las Anod expelled Somaliland authorities and declared support for the SSC-Khaatumo administration, leading to months of heavy fighting and mass displacement.
The exchange comes just days after Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi' Cirro' publicly voiced support for releasing detainees from the Las Anod conflict and reopening trade with areas under SSC-Khaatumo control.
Earlier this month, the SSC-Khaatumo administration handed over 25 prisoners to Somalia's federal government during Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre's historic visit to Las Anod—a move that Somaliland condemned as a breach of international law and a violation of its sovereignty.
While Puntland and Somaliland have now engaged in a bilateral exchange, SSC-Khaatumo remains absent from the process, and none of its affiliated detainees were among those released, raising questions about the status of its detained fighters and supporters.
The SSC-Khaatumo administration has not publicly commented on the latest exchange.
The Las Anod conflict displaced more than 200,000 people, according to United Nations estimates, and left deep political and social divisions across the Sool, Sanaag and Cayn regions. The long-term status of the area remains a contentious issue between Somaliland, Puntland, and the emergent SSC-Khaatumo leadership.