Mogadishu/Hargeisa – A fresh political rift has erupted between Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia over the disputed regions of Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn (SSC), raising fears of renewed instability in the Horn of Africa.
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) accused Mogadishu of “interfering in Somaliland’s internal affairs” by backing the newly established Northeastern Administration. He maintained that the contested regions have been part of Somaliland since it declared independence in 1991 and urged Somalia’s leaders to prioritize peace and development rather than “fuelling divisions.”
The Somali Federal Government rejects that claim, insisting the SSC regions remain integral to Somalia. Officials argue that support for the Northeastern Administration is intended to reinforce national unity and central authority.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is reportedly considering a visit to Las Anod, the SSC capital, in a show of support for the new administration. Somaliland has denounced the planned trip as “provocative.”
The Northeastern Administration, led by President Firdhiye, has asserted full control over SSC. Its leadership says the move reflects the will of local communities and is a constitutional right under Somalia’s federal system. The administration has also expressed ambitions to extend authority to Erigavo, the capital of Sanaag region, escalating tensions further.
Somaliland dismisses the administration as illegitimate, warning that its expansion undermines Somaliland’s decades-long quest for international recognition as an independent state. The federal government counters that its backing is aimed at safeguarding Somalia’s territorial integrity.
Analysts caution that the standoff could escalate if President Mohamud follows through with his visit to Las Anod or if the Northeastern Administration expands into additional territory. The dispute highlights the entrenched political divisions complicating Somalia’s already fragile stability.
