PRESS STATEMENT
Issued by: Horn of Africa Development Organisation (HODO)
Date: 17 January 2026
For Immediate Release
The Horn of Africa Development Organisation (HODO) strongly condemns the recent visit of the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, to Las Anod, describing it as a deliberate, provocative, and politically motivated act intended to destabilize peace, undermine Somaliland’s sovereignty, and rekindle conflict in an already fragile region.
This visit was not undertaken in the interest of peace, reconciliation, or the welfare of the people of Las Anod. Rather, it constitutes a calculated political maneuver aimed at interfering in Somaliland’s internal affairs and exploiting local grievances for narrow political objectives.
Deliberate Division and Political Incitement
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has persistently pursued a strategy of division and incitement, falsely portraying the people of Las Anod through artificial and dangerous political and clan-based classifications, including the misleading dichotomy of “Somaliland” versus “Khatumo.”
Such narratives are historically false and politically reckless. The people of Las Anod are an integral part of Somaliland, which peacefully restored its sovereignty in 1991 following the collapse of the failed 1960 union. The violence that erupted in Las Anod in 2023 was significantly fueled by external political interference, including direct manipulation originating from Mogadishu.
Militarization and Support for Armed Factions
After eight months of intense conflict, Somaliland withdrew its forces from Las Anod in good faith to prevent further civilian casualties. Since then, the city has been placed under the control of armed factions lacking public legitimacy, operating with political, financial, and logistical backing from the Federal Government of Somalia.
These actions represent a dangerous normalization of militia governance, undermining prospects for durable peace and replacing dialogue with coercion, fragmentation, and insecurity.
Security Hypocrisy and Political Theater
It is both alarming and deeply hypocritical that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is able to conduct a highly publicized visit to Las Anod while remaining unable to safely travel to vast areas within Somalia, including regions near his own place of origin, due to the dominance of Al Shabaab.
The security conditions he exploited in Las Anod are not the result of effective governance by the Somali Federal Government, but rather the product of the long standing stability cultivated by Somaliland. The visit amounted to little more than political theater and staged imagery, designed to falsely project authority beyond Somalia’s limited and fragile reach.
Somaliland’s Role in Stability and Public Trust
The relative peace and order in Las Anod are a direct outcome of Somaliland’s decades long commitment to peace building, reconciliation, and community based governance. The people of Las Anod are part of Somaliland’s citizenry and have historically benefited from its stability, security, and social cohesion.
Nevertheless, genuine public grievances have been deliberately exploited by weak and externally influenced political actors, functioning as proxies for foreign interests that benefit from a perpetually unstable Somalia. Certain external powers—including Turkey, China, Egypt, and some Gulf states—continue to pursue strategic agendas that thrive on disorder rather than sustainable peace.
Conclusion
The visit of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to Las Anod constitutes reckless political interference, not responsible leadership. It threatens regional stability, undermines authentic reconciliation efforts, and risks dragging the region back into violence.
The Horn of Africa Development Organisation calls upon regional bodies, international partners, and peace building institutions to reject such destabilizing actions, respect Somaliland’s internal processes, and support inclusive, locally driven, and peaceful solutions.
History will distinguish between those who build peace and institutions and those who sacrifice stability for short term political spectacle.
Your Sincerely,
Dr. Abdi Abdillahi Hassan
Chairperson
Horn of Africa Development Organisation (HODO)