Somaliland has formally suspended all peace negotiations with the Federal Government of Somalia, citing a “blatant violation of its sovereignty” following Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s unannounced visit to Las Anod on April 12.
The decision, announced after an emergency cabinet meeting chaired by President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi “Irro,” marks a dramatic collapse of a decade-long dialogue process between the two sides. The Somaliland government denounced Barre’s visit to the contested Sool region as “a deliberate provocation and a breach of international norms and Somaliland’s territorial integrity.”
“This act by the Prime Minister of Somalia undermines all efforts towards peaceful dialogue and destabilizes the fragile security in eastern regions,” said Information Minister Ahmed Yasin Sheikh Ali Ayanle. “Somaliland will no longer participate in any negotiations with Somalia. Our sovereignty is not up for discussion.”
Tensions Over Detainee Transfer
The rift deepened after SSC-Khaatumo authorities, now in control of Las Anod, handed over 25 detainees previously held by Somaliland to the Somali federal government. The prisoners were flown to Mogadishu without prior coordination with Hargeisa. Somalia’s Justice Minister Hassan Moalim justified the move as a humanitarian effort, saying the individuals were non-combatants and included elderly and sick persons.
However, Somaliland firmly rejected this explanation. “There were no negotiations, no legal framework, and no consent,” Ayanle stated. “This was not a prisoner exchange. It was a political stunt aimed at distracting from Somalia’s internal crisis.”
Appeal to International Partners
In its official communiqué, Somaliland emphasized its ongoing cooperation with international bodies and partner states, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the U.S., U.K., Denmark, Finland, Türkiye, and the UAE. These partnerships, Hargeisa said, aim to address detainee issues in accordance with international legal standards.
The statement also urged the international community to condemn Somalia’s actions in the eastern Sool region, warning that continued interference risks fuelling extremism and destabilizing the wider Horn of Africa.
Recognition and Sovereignty Reaffirmed
The Somaliland government reaffirmed that its declaration of independence—made in 1991 after the collapse of the Somali central government—is final and irreversible. The suspension of talks comes after multiple rounds of international-led negotiations in Djibouti, Türkiye, and the UAE, all of which have failed to yield a breakthrough.
“The Republic of Somaliland’s independence is not a bargaining chip,” the cabinet statement read. “We remain committed to peace, but peace must be built on mutual respect.”
The breakdown in talks adds fresh uncertainty to the region, where tensions remain high. International observers fear renewed clashes in Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn unless new diplomatic efforts emerge to prevent escalation.