By Horn Africa News
Hargeisa — The administration of Somaliland has strongly rejected the formation of a new “North-East State” administration recently declared in the contested town of Lasanod, labeling it illegal and a direct violation of Somaliland’s territorial integrity.
Following an extraordinary cabinet meeting held today in Hargeisa, the Somaliland Council of Ministers issued a statement denouncing the new administration and reaffirming that the regions of Sool, Sanaag, and Togdheer are integral parts of Somaliland.
“The administration of Somaliland was established based on the will of its people. Its borders are those inherited from British Somaliland at independence in 1960, before uniting with Somalia. Thirty years later, Somaliland reclaimed its sovereignty within those same borders,” said Minister of Information Ahmed Yasin Sheikh Ali Ayanle while reading the official communiqué.
The cabinet accused the Federal Government of Somalia of exploiting the creation of the new state for electoral purposes and of misusing international aid and military support to fuel conflict in the region.
According to the statement, Sool, Sanaag, and Togdheer are indivisible from Somaliland territory, and the local populations in these areas have actively participated in the state-building process—including voting in the referendum that founded Somaliland’s current status.
“The administration remains committed to engaging the people of eastern Sool in dialogue aimed at reaching a peaceful resolution to the current tensions in Lasanod. We’ve also made significant progress in reconciling communities in the Sanaag region,” Minister Ayanle added.
The cabinet further expressed concern that the recent lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia may escalate violence in the region, warning that weapons could fall into the hands of extremist groups.
In conclusion, the ministers reaffirmed that Somaliland is prepared to defend its sovereignty and will not allow any division of its territory or the creation of parallel administrations in Sool and Sanaag.
The newly declared “North-East State” has announced its ambition to govern Sool, Sanaag, and parts of Togdheer. Puntland, which also claims the regions, has denounced the move, while the Federal Government of Somalia has offered full support to the new administration.
The emergence of the new state follows the withdrawal of Somaliland forces from Lasanod in 2023. In the aftermath, local clan elders and traditional leaders opted to form a new regional authority aligned with the Federal Government in Mogadishu.
