Lasaanood (KAAB TV) – A high-level delegation of ministers and members of parliament arrived today in Lasaanood, the capital of the Sool region, ahead of the anticipated visit of Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre, who is expected to arrive within hours.
The federal delegation received a warm welcome at the Lasaanood airport from both local officials and members of the community, signaling the beginning of the Prime Minister’s historic visit.
Abdulqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali (Firdhiye), the leader of the SSC-Khatumo administration, also officially welcomed the delegation at the presidential office of SSC-Khatumo, where key meetings are currently underway.
The arrival of the delegation has generated widespread attention in Lasaanood, highlighting the significance of the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit. This trip marks the first time in three decades that a sitting Somali Prime Minister will visit the town.
Prime Minister Hamse’s planned visit has drawn sharp criticism from the Somaliland administration, which has openly opposed the move and issued warnings against his presence in Lasaanood.
Despite the opposition, the visit is seen as a landmark moment. The last known visit by a head of the Somali federal government to Lasaanood was by the country’s second president, Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, over 30 years ago.