Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro) has reaffirmed his administration’s claim over the Sool region, describing it as an integral part of Somaliland while calling for dialogue and reconciliation with local communities to address longstanding grievances.
Speaking on Wednesday at the conclusion of the 69th session of the Somaliland Council of Ministers, President Irro said his government remains committed to preserving peace, unity, and national cohesion.
He stressed that residents of Sool should be welcomed and that any disputes should be resolved through dialogue, mutual understanding, and political agreement rather than confrontation.
In a statement issued by the Somaliland Presidency, the president said that “the Sool region is part of the Republic of Somaliland, and the people of Sool are brothers and sisters of Somaliland.” He urged that community grievances be addressed through negotiations, reconciliation, and national unity.
The remarks came just days after Fahiima Yusuf Abdullahi (Fahiima Quuje) returned to Hargeisa after publicly announcing that she had withdrawn her support for the North Eastern Somalia Administration, a move that attracted significant political attention.
Although large-scale fighting between Somaliland forces and those aligned with the North Eastern Somalia Administration has subsided, tensions remain unresolved.
Both sides continue to hold prisoners captured during previous clashes, while broader political disputes over the future of the region have yet to be settled through negotiations.
The Sool region remains one of the most contested territories in northern Somalia. It is claimed by Somaliland, Puntland, and the North Eastern Somalia Administration, with each asserting sovereignty over the area.
Las Anod, the regional capital, is currently administered by the North Eastern Somalia Administration, which declared itself in August 2025 following months of conflict.
Separately, Aqil Hussein Aden Adde, a prominent traditional elder from the North Eastern Somalia Administration who played a role during the conflict in Las Anod, has reportedly defected to Hargeisa.
According to sources familiar with the matter, he traveled through Jigjiga in Ethiopia before arriving in Hargeisa following discussions with President Irro’s administration.
The elder previously held senior positions under the Somaliland administration but left Hargeisa after former Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi launched military operations in his home area, prompting him to side with his local community during the conflict.
His return is being viewed by observers as a potentially significant political development amid continuing efforts by Somaliland to rebuild support in the contested Sool region.
