Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre is set to visit Lasanod, the capital of the contested SSC Khatumo region, marking the first visit by a Somali prime minister to the city in more than four decades.
The visit comes nearly a year after violent clashes between Somaliland forces and local militias in August 2023, which ended with Somaliland troops withdrawing. However, the region remains a flashpoint, as both Somaliland and the Somali federal government claim authority over it.
SSC Khatumo is currently the only northern region recognizing the Mogadishu-based federal government, making Barre’s visit highly symbolic. “This visit is historic because the stability of Somalia’s unity heavily depends on how the federal government in Mogadishu addresses the situation in SSC Khatumo,” the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement.
Residents have begun decorating the city with banners and images of the Prime Minister in anticipation of his arrival. The visit will focus on reconciliation, regional development, and long-term stabilization efforts.
