Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro met with the Grand Traditional Leader of Awdal region, Ugas Abdirashid Ugas Roble, on Monday, in a strategic move aimed at countering efforts by Somalia’s federal government to peel the region away from the self-declared republic.
The meeting, held in Borama, the capital of Awdal, comes amid increasing political activity by diaspora-backed politicians seeking to establish a federal member state in the region under Mogadishu’s jurisdiction. The Somali federal government previously succeeded in wresting parts of the contested Sool region from Somaliland, raising concerns of a repeat scenario in Awdal.
President Irro described the meeting as fulfilling a key campaign pledge to facilitate the peaceful return from exile of the influential traditional elder, whom he praised as a symbol of peace and unity. Irro urged the Ugas to continue his historic role in preserving Somaliland’s cohesion and stability.
“The Ugas was a foundational figure in Somaliland’s establishment in the 1990s, and he remains vital to our collective peace, unity, and resilience,” Irro said following the talks.
The engagement underscores Hargeisa’s renewed efforts to win over public sentiment in Awdal, where frustrations have mounted over central policies. The region was at the forefront of protests earlier last year against a controversial memorandum of understanding signed by former President Muse Bihi Abdi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which would grant Ethiopia access to a Red Sea port – a deal that angered local communities and drew international scrutiny.
Somaliland authorities have also accused Turkey of meddling in its internal affairs after Ankara’s ambassador to Somalia met with another clan elder from Awdal who advocates for the region’s separation and integration into Somalia’s federal system.
While Mogadishu’s capacity to assert control over Awdal remains unclear, the developments point to intensifying geopolitical and clan-driven contestation in northern Somalia, with Somaliland’s decades-long claim to territorial integrity increasingly under pressure.
