MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somaliland has officially suspended its dialogue with the Federal Government of Somalia, following what it described as a “provocative” and “irresponsible” visit by Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre to Las Anod, the capital city of federally-recognized SSC-Khaatumo state.
The visit, which lasted four days, drew strong condemnation from Somaliland authorities, who view Las Anod as part of their sovereign territory, despite ongoing local resistance and international ambiguity over the city’s status.
The decision to halt talks was announced on Wednesday by Somaliland’s Minister of Information, Ahmed-Yasin Ali, during a press briefing held shortly after an emergency cabinet meeting in Hargeisa.
The minister accused Prime Minister Barre of deliberately undermining the fragile state of negotiations by visiting Las Anod — the administrative capital of the self-proclaimed SSC-Khaatumo administration — without consulting or informing Somaliland.
“This visit is a clear breach of diplomatic norms and a direct provocation,” Minister Ahmed-Yasin Ali said. “It shows a lack of seriousness on the part of the Federal Government of Somalia in pursuing meaningful dialogue with Somaliland.”
Tensions between Hargeisa and Mogadishu have escalated in recent months, particularly around the status of Las Anod, where local clan militias aligned with the SSC-Khaatumo have clashed with Somaliland forces, pushing for closer ties with the federal government instead.
In addition to criticizing the Prime Minister’s visit, Minister Ahmed-Yasin Ali also rebuked the Somali government’s recent announcement regarding the release of prisoners of war (POWs).
He accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration of using the gesture as a public relations move to divert attention from deepening political and economic challenges within Somalia.
“The Federal Government is using symbolic acts like the release of prisoners to distract from its failures at home,” the minister added, though he did not specify the number of prisoners released or the terms of their release.
The collapse of talks is a major blow to ongoing regional mediation efforts aimed at resolving long-standing tensions between Somaliland and Somalia. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has yet to gain international recognition but has maintained relative stability.
