LAS’ANOOD (KAAB TV) – The city of Las Anod, capital of Somalia’s newest federal member state, the North-East State of Somalia, is abuzz with activity as preparations reach their peak for the inauguration ceremony of the region’s newly elected leadership.
The highly anticipated event is scheduled to take place next week and marks a significant political milestone in the federalization of Somalia.
The regional elections, held on August 30, 2025, concluded with the election of Abdiqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali (Firdhiye) as President and Abdirishiid Yusuf Jibril as Vice President of the North-East State.
Their upcoming swearing-in ceremony is expected to draw national attention, both symbolically and politically, as it represents the formal consolidation of Somalia’s sixth federal member state.
National Attention and High-Level Delegations
According to regional sources, formal invitations have been dispatched to several high-ranking officials of the Federal Government of Somalia, including President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre.
While their attendance has not yet been officially confirmed, local officials and organizers remain hopeful.
If President Mohamud does attend, it would mark his first official visit to Las Anod since assuming office in May 2022, and since the federal recognition of the North-East State.
For Prime Minister Barre, it would be his second visit to the region.
Across the streets of Las Anod, festive preparations are visible, with banners, posters, and flags adorning public spaces. Many of these display the images of both federal and regional leaders, reflecting a strong sense of pride and anticipation among the local population.
Formation of the North-East State
The North-East State of Somalia was officially recognized by the Federal Government in July 2025, following years of grassroots political mobilization and administrative development.
The state is headquartered in Las Anod, a strategic and historically contested city located in the Sool region of northern Somalia.
The creation of the North-East State marks a significant development in Somalia’s ongoing federalization process, which aims to decentralize governance and promote regional autonomy within a united federal framework.
The state now joins Puntland, Galmudug, Hirshabelle, South West, and Jubaland as one of the six officially recognized federal member states of Somalia.
Regional Significance
Las Anod’s selection as the capital carries considerable political and symbolic weight. The city has long been at the center of territorial disputes and clan-based tensions involving Puntland and the self-declared Republic of Somaliland.
The establishment and federal recognition of the North-East State is seen by many observers as a step toward stabilizing the region and affirming the federal government’s commitment to inclusive governance.
Security preparations are reportedly underway to ensure the smooth running of the inauguration ceremony, with regional forces coordinating with federal security agencies.
Civil society groups, traditional elders, and international observers have also been invited, underscoring the broader national and international interest in the event.
As the North-East State prepares to enter a new chapter under the leadership of President Firdhiye and Vice President Abdirishiid Yusuf Jibril, both the regional and federal governments face the challenge of building sustainable institutions, ensuring security, and delivering public services in a region historically underserved.
The upcoming inauguration is not only a celebration of democratic progress but also a moment of reflection on Somalia’s evolving political landscape — a landscape increasingly shaped by local agency and federal partnership.