Tuesday May 6, 2025
FILE - Saleebaan Mohamoud Adan
Hargeisa (HOL) — Somaliland’s House of Elders has called on the regional government to unconditionally release prisoners from the SSC-Khaatumo movement held in Hargeisa, a gesture aimed at easing political tensions and supporting peace efforts in the disputed Sool region.
On Monday, Saleebaan Mohamoud Adan, speaker of the Upper House, said that the detainees should be released without conditions and transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for neutral handling. He cautioned against linking their release to political negotiations or the fate of Somalilanders held in Las Anod by SSC-Khaatumo forces.
“I believe we should release our prisoners unconditionally and allow the ICRC to handle the transfer,” Saleebaan said. “It’s not right for the government to treat this as a negotiation with our own people.”
The comments come amid stalled dialogue between Somaliland and SSC-Khaatumo, a self-declared administration seeking autonomy in the Sool region. The two sides have clashed repeatedly in recent years, notably around Las Anod, where hundreds have been displaced and scores of fighters captured.
Saleebaan criticized SSC-Khaatumo’s demand for Somaliland to recognize its independence as a precondition for releasing prisoners, calling the condition unrealistic and politically risky. He also urged traditional leaders mediating between the two sides to take the lead in peace talks and prisoner releases, rather than formal negotiations between political administrations.
The speaker also accused Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of undermining Somaliland’s peace and stability by recognizing SSC-Khaatumo’s administration, which he said has further inflamed tensions in the region.
Last month, SSC-Khaatumo released 25 Somaliland prisoners unconditionally, citing humanitarian concerns and the vulnerable condition of those held. Puntland and Somaliland also recently exchanged 26 detainees captured during clashes in Las Anod, signalling limited cooperation between the rival sides.
No formal ceasefire or agreement has been reached between Somaliland and SSC-Khaatumo. The timeline for further prisoner exchanges remains unclear, as both sides continue to hold detainees.