Somalia’s outgoing Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has failed to secure the release of hundreds of prisoners from Somaliland after traditional elders in the newly recognized Northeastern State reportedly rejected his request during meetings in Las Anod, sources told Kaab TV.
Barre is visiting Las Anod to mark the first anniversary of the SSC-Khaatumo administration’s recognition as Somalia’s Northeastern State.
On Monday night, he attended anniversary celebrations and delivered a speech highlighting Mogadishu’s political backing for the administration, describing it as a symbol of Somalia’s unity.
“We have a longer ambition here. The reason we support you and stand with you is that we have a longer-term plan here,” Barre said during his roughly 30-minute address.
Despite the significance of the prisoner issue, the prime minister made no public reference during his speech to the estimated 300 Somaliland-born prisoners being held in Las Anod.
His visit comes at a time of growing frustration among Northeastern State politicians, who have complained that Mogadishu has failed to deliver on promises of financial support.
Local leaders have criticized the federal government for excluding the administration from Somalia’s 2026 national budget and for failing to provide sustained funding for its security forces despite repeated commitments.
Barre sought to reassure local leaders that federal assistance would eventually arrive, arguing that financial constraints had prevented the government from fulfilling earlier promises.
On Monday, the outgoing prime minister also met with traditional clan elders in Las Anod.
However, the meeting was notable for the absence of Chief Garad Jama Garad Ali, the most senior traditional leader of the Dhulbahante community.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, Barre privately urged the elders to release prisoners captured from Somaliland during the 2023 conflict.
The request was reportedly rejected, leaving the prisoner issue deadlocked.
Both Somaliland and Northeastern State continue to hold prisoners captured during the eight-month conflict over Las Anod in 2023, when Dhulbahante fighters battled Somaliland forces for control of the city.
A prisoner exchange agreement brokered last year with mediation from the Federal Government of Somalia and Puntland resulted in the release of up to 25 detainees from each side.
However, negotiations over the remaining prisoners have since stalled.
Sources say Northeastern State has insisted that Somaliland must first acknowledge the administration as a federal member state of Somalia before any broader prisoner release can take place.
Somaliland, however, continues to regard Las Anod as part of its Sool region and rejects the area’s incorporation into Somalia’s federal system.
Last month Las Anod-based Northeastern Assembly called for the prosecution of the Somaliland prisoners.
That call contradicted a previous statement by the Speaker of the Northeastern Assembly, Aden Abdullahi, who said that prisoners to be freed once a peace deal is reached.
As of Tuesday evening, the Prime Minister’s Office had not publicly commented on the reported request or the outcome of the discussions.