By Abdinor Ibrahim
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s recent announcement of his intention to visit Las Anod—an embattled city and interim capital of the SSC-Khaatumo Administration—has sparked yet another wave of controversy in an already fragmented Somalia.
Though cloaked in the rhetoric of unity and sovereignty, many see the planned visit not as a bold act of leadership, but rather as a calculated political stunt aimed at salvaging a faltering premiership.
The trip, though not yet scheduled, is already inflaming tensions on multiple fronts. Somaliland, which claims Las Anod as part of its territory, labeled the visit a “declaration of war”—a statement that, while characteristically hyperbolic, reflects the gravity of the moment. But perhaps more telling than the anger in Hargeisa is the criticism from within Somalia itself.
Federal Rejection, Not Federal Backing
Puntland and Jubaland—two key federal member states and traditional power centers in Somalia’s federal arrangement—have openly distanced themselves from Hamza’s leadership.
Puntland, which also lays claim to Las Anod, warned that the visit could undermine the fragile federal system and endanger national unity. Jubaland, for its part, has long viewed the Prime Minister as ineffective and politically weak.
That the very regions from which Hamza draws his supposed legitimacy now see him as “unfit for the job” speaks volumes. This is not a unifier stepping into a conflict zone—it’s a leader attempting to rewrite a narrative that has already moved on without him.
A Smokescreen for Political Failure
Critics argue that the Prime Minister’s move is less about asserting sovereignty and more about deflecting attention from his growing list of political failures.
With his credibility eroding across federal and regional lines, the Las Anod visit appears to be a desperate attempt to appear relevant and decisive.
Supporters claim the visit is a strategic response to growing international engagement with Somaliland, including recent deals with Ethiopia. But this logic falls apart under scrutiny.
A symbolic visit won’t undo diplomatic realities, nor will it convince the world that Somalia’s fractured leadership is capable of governing even its capital, let alone disputed territories.
Las Anod: A Dangerous Stage for Political Theater
Let’s not forget what Las Anod represents: a city scarred by conflict, the site of deadly clashes between Somaliland forces and local militias aligned with SSC-Khaatumo.
Hundreds, including civilians, lost their lives. It is a deeply traumatized place—not a backdrop for political posturing.
If Hamza truly cared about reconciliation and healing, he would prioritize inclusive dialogue over optics. Instead, this visit seems choreographed to appear brave while risking further bloodshed and deepening Somalia’s political fractures.
A Nation Held Hostage by Political Ego
Hamza’s move reflects a deeper malaise in Somali politics: the use of national crises as tools for personal survival. At a time when Somalia desperately needs calm leadership, his actions are inflaming the very divisions he claims to address.
If this visit does go ahead, it may provoke confrontation rather than offer clarity. And if it doesn’t, it will go down as yet another empty gesture in a tenure defined more by division than by delivery.
Somalia doesn’t need symbolic visits—it needs competent, inclusive leadership. Unfortunately, in this chapter, that remains as elusive as peace in Las Anod.
The writer is Abdinor Ibrahim, a political affairs analyst, based in Mogadishu, Somalia
