Friday April 11, 2025
Las Anod (HOL) – A high-level delegation from the Federal Government of Somalia, led by Minister of Interior Ali Yusuf Ali Xoosh, arrived in Las Anod on Friday ahead of Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre's expected visit to the SSC-Khaatumo-administered town on Saturday.
The Prime Minister is slated to inaugurate several development projects funded by the federal government and launch new initiatives aimed at improving services in the Sool region, according to officials.
Federal authorities say the visit is intended to strengthen relations between Mogadishu and the SSC-Khaatumo administration, which declared itself aligned with the Federal Government following the 2023 uprising that ousted Somaliland forces from Las Anod.
Interior Minister Ali Yusuf Xoosh reaffirmed the federal government's commitment to supporting SSC-Khaatumo and addressing the needs of its residents.
"The government will stand with the people of SSC and work toward lasting development and governance," he said.
The arrival of the federal delegation follows the buildup of security forces and the advance arrival of officials, including ministers, MPs**, and members of both houses of parliament.
SSC-Khaatumo's Minister of Information, Najib Barkhadle Warsame, responded to criticism from Somaliland's Minister of Information, Ahmed Yasin Sheikh Ali Ayaanle, who accused Mogadishu of provoking conflict by sending high-level delegations to a disputed area.
Minister Najib dismissed the claims as "baseless," insisting that SSC is now under the full control of local and federal authorities.
The region, comprising Sool, Sanaag, and Ayn, has long been contested by Somaliland and Puntland, but recent political and military shifts have tilted local governance toward alignment with Mogadishu.