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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia– April 29, 2025
A new dawn emerges in the Horn of Africa: de-escalation between Somaliland and Puntland. The self-declared Republic of Somaliland has released 11 prisoners of war captured during the 2023 Las Anod conflict, while Puntland, a semi-autonomous state of Somalia, has reciprocated by releasing 15 Somaliland prisoners. The exchange, facilitated by Ethiopian mediators and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), marks a rare moment of cooperation between rival administrations. However, the gesture is overshadowed by escalating tensions with the Somalia-backed militia in the Sool region (SSC Khatumo) and Somaliland Army Forces in Sool and Sanaag. Khatumo militia has refused to release its captives and is reportedly preparing for war in the Sanaag region.
The prisoner swap, announced on Tuesday, follows months of hostilities sparked by the 2023 Las Anod conflict, where Somaliland forces clashed with SSC-Khaatumo militias in the disputed Sool region. Somaliland’s President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, hailed the release as a “step toward reconciliation” and expressed readiness to negotiate a peace deal with both Puntland and SSC-Khaatumo militia. “We are committed to fostering mutual benefit and stability in the region and the release of the POWs and open corridors for business,” Irro stated, emphasising collaboration with neighbouring countries.
Puntland’s President, Said Abdullahi Deni, echoed the call for peace, emphasising the need for good neighbourly relations. “While Somaliland has declared its independence and has its rights, Puntland is committed to fostering peace and open corridors for business,” Deni stated in the press conference.
Puntland’s administration, based in Garowe, confirmed the release of 15 Somaliland prisoners, who are expected to return to Hargeisa by Wednesday. Official sources indicate the prisoners include individuals from various clans, reflecting the complex tribal dynamics in the region. The exchange has been described as a “confidence-building step” by analyst Rashid Abdi, with hopes it could pave the way for broader dialogue.
However, the SSC-Khaatumo militia, which controls Las Anod and claims to represent the Dhulbahante clan in the Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn (SSC) regions, has rejected participation in the prisoner exchange. The militia, which captured over 300 Somaliland soldiers during the 2023 conflict, recently released 25 prisoners to Somalia’s Federal Government during a visit by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre to Las Anod on April 13. This move is intended to embarrass the Somaliland government and has no relation to the Federal Government of Somalia. Somaliland condemns the visit of Somalia’s Prime Minister to Lasanod, which is considered to be in Somaliland territory. The recent release of 25 prisoners was criticised by some as a breach of protocol for bypassing direct negotiations with Somaliland or Puntland.
SSC-Khaatumo is now reportedly holding its remaining prisoners as leverage, demanding that Somaliland recognise it as a federal member state of Somalia and cease military operations in SSC-controlled areas. The militia’s leadership, led by Abdikadir Jama Ali (Firdhiye), has accused Somaliland of ongoing aggression and insists that any prisoner release be contingent on a comprehensive peace agreement.
Tensions have further intensified following Prime Minister Barre’s visit to Las Anod, where he officially recognised SSC-Khaatumo as a federal member state and inaugurated development projects, including a highway connecting Las Anod to Buhodle. Sources close to SSC-Khaatumo claim that Barre encouraged the militia to assert control over Sanaag to meet federal statehood requirements, prompting preparations for a potential offensive against Somaliland positions in the region. On December 14, 2024, SSC-Khaatumo forces launched an assault on Somaliland positions in Erigavo, Sanaag, signalling a new phase of conflict.
Somaliland has condemned these developments, with its Ministry of Foreign Affairs labelling Barre’s visit a “direct threat to regional peace”. Hargeisa maintains that SSC-Khaatumo’s actions are orchestrated by Somalia’s Federal Government to undermine Somaliland’s sovereignty and disrupt its 2024 presidential election. The Somaliland government has also denied entering negotiations with Somalia over prisoner releases, asserting that its focus remains on direct talks with Puntland.
The situation in Sanaag remains volatile, with both Somaliland and SSC-Khaatumo reinforcing their positions. Local reports indicate heavy artillery exchanges near Buq-Dharkayn and Yeyle in November 2023, and fears are growing of a broader conflict that could destabilise the Horn of Africa. The international community, including the African Union and the UN, has called for restraint and dialogue, urging all parties to release detainees and prioritise peacebuilding.
As Somaliland and Puntland take tentative steps toward reconciliation, SSC-Khaatumo’s refusal to release prisoners and its apparent preparations for war in Sanaag threaten to unravel these efforts. The region stands at a crossroads, with the prospect of peace hanging in the balance amid competing visions of sovereignty and self-determination.
By Paul S. William, Horn of Africa Correspondent
