Tensions Soar as Somaliland Suspends Dialogue with Somalia

Hargeisa, April 17, 2025 – Somaliland.com
The Republic of Somaliland has officially suspended all dialogue with the Federal Government of Somalia, citing a provocative and unauthorized visit by Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre to the contested town of Las Anod on April 12, 2025. The Somaliland government denounced the visit as a deliberate violation of its sovereignty and a dangerous escalation in a fragile region still reeling from months of tension and conflict.

In an urgent cabinet meeting chaired by President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi “Irro,” the Somaliland government unanimously condemned Barre’s surprise appearance in Las Anod, labeling it a “direct breach of international law and Somaliland’s territorial integrity.” The statement stressed that Somaliland’s sovereignty is final and non-negotiable and that Mogadishu’s latest move effectively nullifies the basis for any further engagement.

Background: Las Anod, Sovereignty, and Somaliland’s Red Line

Las Anod, located in the Sool region of eastern Somaliland, has long been a flashpoint in the dispute between Somaliland and the Somali federal government. Although Somaliland has administered the region for much of the past two decades, Somalia continues to claim it as part of its national territory. Recent unrest and clan-based tensions have made Las Anod a symbol of the broader contest between the two sides.

Prime Minister Barre’s visit was widely perceived in Somaliland as an attempt to assert authority over a territory that lies outside Mogadishu’s control. The government in Hargeisa interpreted the trip not only as symbolic aggression but also as a strategic ploy to undermine Somaliland’s de facto independence.

Somaliland: Mogadishu is Playing Politics with Prisoners and Provocations

In its communiqué, Somaliland also categorically denied Mogadishu’s claims that recent discussions involved the transfer or release of prisoners. The government clarified that detainee matters are being handled in coordination with international partners, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and with the involvement of key allies such as the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

“These are not prisoners of war,” the statement emphasized, rejecting Somalia’s framing of the issue. “They are not subjects of bilateral negotiation with a government that does not recognize our existence and continues to violate our borders.”

The government argued that Somalia’s actions are driven by internal political crises, including growing dissent within federal states and waning public confidence in the central government. Rather than addressing domestic instability, Mogadishu is accused of using symbolic gestures and inflammatory rhetoric to shift attention and score short-term political points.

Somaliland’s Message to the World: Stop Enabling Destabilization

In a direct appeal to the international community, the Somaliland government warned that continued provocations by Somalia could embolden extremist groups operating in the region, particularly in the Horn of Africa where both Somalia and Yemen are active theaters of jihadist activity. It urged international actors to support Somaliland’s sovereignty and efforts to secure lasting peace and development in the region.

“The Republic of Somaliland has long cooperated with regional and global partners on peacebuilding, counterterrorism, and humanitarian issues,” the statement read. “But we will not tolerate acts of aggression masked as political visits, especially in areas where lives have been lost defending our sovereignty.”

A Historic Break – What’s Next?

This declaration marks a significant turning point in Somaliland-Somalia relations. Talks—often facilitated by third parties such as Turkey, the UK, or the Djibouti Republic—have always been fragile and sporadic. Somaliland’s suspension of all dialogue now raises the specter of renewed instability and hardens the line between the two territories.

The government in Hargeisa reiterated that its people voted overwhelmingly for independence in a 2001 referendum and have since built a functioning, democratic system with stable institutions. It stressed that it will not return to the negotiating table unless its sovereignty is respected as a precondition.

As international partners assess the fallout, attention now turns to whether Somalia will continue to escalate, or whether pressure from donors and allies will force a recalibration in Mogadishu’s approach. For now, however, Somaliland has drawn a clear red line—Las Anod is not up for discussion, and its nationhood is not a matter for debate.

Stay tuned to Somaliland.com for more updates.