Somali PM’s Las Anod Visit: What You Need to Know Now

Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre is expected to arrive in Las Anod on Thursday, as senior federal and regional delegations continue to pour into the city ahead of a major political ceremony, officials said.

The visit will be led by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and includes senior federal officials, lawmakers, security chiefs, and regional leaders. Among those already in Las Anod are Interior Security Minister Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail (Fartaag) and Somali Police Commissioner Major General Asad Osman Abdullahi (Diyaano).

The delegations are gathering for the inauguration of the President of the North Eastern State of Somalia, Abdikarim Ahmed Firdhiye, and his deputy Abdirashid, who were elected on August 30, 2025.

Las Anod, the administrative capital of the North Eastern State, has seen a steady influx of officials since earlier this week. The prime minister’s arrival is scheduled for Thursday, January 16.

Las Anod holds significant political and symbolic weight for the federal government, particularly amid ongoing disputes over sovereignty, governance, and territorial unity in northern Somalia.

Federal leaders have repeatedly described the city as a symbol of national unity, especially following years of conflict and competing territorial claims.

Security has been sharply tightened across the city, with Somali National Armed Forces, regional security units, and local forces jointly deployed to secure the visit and upcoming ceremonies. Federal troops arrived in Las Anod on Wednesday as part of a coordinated security operation.

President Abdikarim Firdhiye, who recently returned from Mogadishu, is overseeing final preparations for the inauguration events. Las Anod has emerged as a focal point in Somalia’s political landscape since local forces expelled Somaliland security units in 2023, leading to the establishment of an administration aligned with the Federal Government of Somalia.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has previously described Las Anod as “the backbone of Somalia’s unity,” framing high-level federal visits as a clear rejection of fragmentation and unilateral secession efforts.

Prime Minister Hamza’s visit marks his second trip to Las Anod, following his April 12, 2025 visit, branded at the time as the “Journey of Unity, Peace, and Reconciliation.” He is also the first Somali prime minister since the collapse of the central government in 1991 to visit the city twice.

Analysts view the visit as a deliberate signal of the federal government's commitment to integrating the Northeastern State into Somalia’s constitutional framework and reinforcing Mogadishu’s authority in contested regions.

With top leaders converging on Las Anod under heavy security, the federal government appears intent on turning symbolism into substance—using presence, protocol, and political backing to underline that Las Anod is firmly within Somalia’s national project.