Somalia Minister of Interior and Federal Reconciliation Ali Yusuf Hosh./HANDOUT
A historic outcome is likely from a conference in the Lasanod region of Somalia, where a meeting to complete the establishment of SSC-Khaatumo federal state is underway.
The conference outcome will mark a historic step forward for
communities that have spent decades without formal political representation in
the Horn of Africa country.
“For the first time in over 30 years, the people of
SSC-Khaatumo are establishing their own political structure, setting the
foundation for local governance, and preparing to hold their first election
once the conference concludes,” said Ali Yusuf Hosh, Minister of Interior and Federal Reconciliation.
SSC-Khaatumo was acknowledged as an interim administration
by the Federal Government of Somalia on October 19, 2023, following its
re-establishment on February 6, 2023, after a period of mass civil unrest in Las
Anod.
Its formations was, in part, to push back against the perceived dominance and control of Somaliland in the regions of Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn (SSC).
The declaration of SSC-Khaatumo, formed by Dhulbahante clan
elders, explicitly rejected Somaliland's claim to these regions and announced
their intention to establish a federal state under Somalia.
Residents of Las Anod have welcomed the conference, decrying
that the region had for a long time been overlooked in Somalia’s state-building
efforts.
Leaders, women, and civil society representatives from
across Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn (SSC) are among the delegates invited to complete
the state-building process.
The opening session of the conference was attended by key
national and regional leaders. These include
Second Deputy Speaker of the Upper House of the Federal Parliament
Senator Abdullahi Timacadde, Interior Federal Minister Ali Yusuf Ali, Leader of
SSC-Khaatumo Abdikhadir Firdhiye, and other federal ministers and legislators.
Traditional leaders from SSC-Khaatumo, official delegates,
and representatives from various society groups also participated.
Regional leaders say that since 2023, SSC-Khaatumo has made
rapid progress, including an interim administration that provides essential
services and stabilising the region.
“Institutions have been built from scratch, including
systems for tax collection, local security coordination, and basic public
services—with broad public support.”
Its establishment is different, as the SSC communities have
come together to build a governance structure that reflects local realities,
identities, and aspirations, instead of waiting for directives.
Discussions currently underway at the Lasanod conference
include proposals for a power-sharing agreement between the various communities
and constituencies of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn, ensuring inclusive participation
in future leadership.
One of the promising outcomes of the Lasanod conference is
the consensus between the different communities from Sool, Sanaag and Cayn. The
renewed unity between these areas is a powerful signal of collective intent: to
complete the formation of a representative federal state rooted in inclusion,
stability, and mutual respect.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR SOMALIA
The new SSC Federal Member State would become the third
largest in the country in terms of geography.
This is likely to bring a significant portion of Somalia’s
territory under the formal structure of the Federal Government, a major step
forward in finalising the country’s federal map.
The creation of SSC-Khaatumo also fills a critical gap in Somalia’s ongoing journey toward national cohesion.
As the country continues to
rebuild its institutions, each Federal Member State plays a vital role in
delivering services, resolving disputes, and giving local communities a voice
in national affairs.
The transition from interim administration to a full federal
member state is a model for how other communities across Somalia might one day
follow suit
