After over a yearlong conflict that has claimed hundreds of lives, the SSC Khatumo has said it is ready to discuss peace with Somaliland leadership to have a lasting solution.
At a meeting in the city of Las Anod- the epicenter of the conflict, the leaders of SSC Khatumo and a delegation from the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia met and agreed to find a solution to the conflict between Somaliland and SSC-Khatumo.
This delegation, consisting of elders and traditional leaders, mentioned that they had visited Hargeisa and that Somaliland’s leaders are ready for peace.
“We are a peace delegation. We came from Hargeisa, and we bring you the message that they are ready for peace. You have also informed us that you are ready for peace,” said Garaad Kulmiye Garaad Maxamed Garaad Dool.
Garaad Kulmiye added that they would relay the information they gather in Lasanod back to Hargeisa, after which preparations for technical negotiations would begin. He pointed out that both sides would independently consider the foundations for the discussions.
The leaders of SSC-Khaatumo stated their readiness for peace and dialogue but emphasized that they are an autonomous region within Somalia.
Garaad Kulmiye emphasized that the discussions in Las Anod would be reported back to Hargeisa, laying the groundwork for structured negotiations. “Both sides need to independently identify their priorities to ensure the talks are productive and address core issues,” he added.
The conflict stems from a fundamental disagreement over the status of the SSC regions. Somaliland claims the territories as part of its sovereign domain following its self-declared independence in 1991. SSC Khaatumo, however, identifies as a federal state within Somalia, maintaining allegiance to the Mogadishu-based government.
The peace delegation’s visit follows a call for dialogue by Somaliland’s newly elected president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro. In a recent statement, Irro expressed his administration’s commitment to resolving the tensions through peaceful negotiations, a significant shift from the previous government’s handling of the conflict.
SSC Khaatumo leaders have expressed cautious optimism, reiterating their commitment to peace while firmly maintaining their stance on territorial sovereignty. They urged all parties to seize this opportunity for meaningful dialogue.
The SSC regions have been a flashpoint for violence, with clashes leaving communities devastated and displaced. Efforts to mediate have repeatedly stalled, with mistrust and competing claims complicating negotiations.
Following prolonged conflicts between Somaliland and SSC-Khaatumo, the new President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Cirro, expressed his desire to resolve the tensions through dialogue.
Somaliland believes that the SSC regions are part of its territory, while SSC Khaatumo considers itself an autonomous region within Somalia, which is the core of the dispute between the two sides.
