Hargeisa (KAAB TV) – The Parliament of Somaliland strongly criticized the upcoming visit of Somali Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre to Lasanood, the administrative center of SSC-Khatumo, a region that Somaliland claims as part of its territory.
This condemnation was made during the opening of a parliamentary session on Monday, following a legislative recess. Members of parliament (MPs) stated that Lasanood continues to face unresolved issues with Somaliland’s administration, and they described the Prime Minister’s planned trip as unacceptable and a violation of Somaliland’s sovereignty.
“The Republic of Somaliland and the Federal Republic of Somalia are two independent countries; there is no connection between us,” said Ali Hamud Jibril, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives. “We are defending our country, and our parliament has convened to address this matter.”
Several MPs echoed these concerns, calling the visit a provocative action that could heighten political and security tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, the administration of SSC-Khatumo, which took control of Lasanood in 2023 following civil unrest against Somaliland’s administration, welcomed the planned visit. SSC-Khatumo officials framed the visit as a demonstration of federal support, aimed at bringing the regions of Sool, Sanaag, and Ayn under the full authority of Somalia’s federal government.
Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Macalin Fiqi, defended the visit, calling it vital for preserving Somalia’s territorial unity. Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre is expected to visit Lasanood in the coming days. In a recent speech, he emphasized that the purpose of the visit is to strengthen cooperation between the Federal Government and SSC-Khatumo, as well as to promote national unity.
This visit comes amid a longstanding dispute over the status of the SSC-Khatumo regions, which are claimed by both Puntland and Somaliland. However, the leaders of SSC-Khatumo have expressed their desire to be part of a federal regional government, working directly with Somalia’s government in Mogadishu.