Las Anod – The newly established Northeast State of Somalia announced Tuesday that any release of captured Somaliland military personnel requires a comprehensive peace agreement addressing the ongoing conflict in the Sool region.
In an exclusive interview with international media, Dr. Adan Abdullahi, Speaker of the Northeast State Parliament, emphasized that prisoner releases must be part of a broader political settlement. “We cannot consider unilateral detainee releases while fundamental issues regarding the Las Anod conflict remain unresolved,” Dr. Adan stated. “Many detainees face serious allegations requiring judicial review, including potential prosecution for violence against civilians.”
The parliamentary leader clarified that his administration remains open to prisoner exchanges through established dialogue channels. “Should Somaliland demonstrate genuine commitment to peaceful resolution, we are prepared to negotiate detainee releases as part of a comprehensive peace agreement,” he explained. “However, continued advocacy for military solutions fundamentally undermines such humanitarian gestures.”
The Speaker revealed that the previous regional administration had released 25 detainees without receiving reciprocal confidence-building measures from Somaliland authorities. “The current three-year detention period remains deeply concerning,” Dr. Adan noted, “though the primary obstacle continues to be Somaliland’s reluctance to engage in substantive peace talks.”
The statements coincide with growing diplomatic initiatives from Mogadishu, where President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration seeks to facilitate prisoner transfers to federal oversight as part of broader reconciliation efforts. These developments follow Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre’s successful mediation in July, which secured the transfer of two dozen Somaliland personnel from previous regional authorities.
International observers from the United Nations and African Union have intensified monitoring of the situation, with multiple diplomatic sources confirming that prisoner-related confidence-building measures represent a potential breakthrough in stalled negotiations between the conflicting parties.
The Northeast State administration, formally established earlier this year, continues to seek international recognition while navigating complex relationships with both federal Somali institutions and Somaliland authorities.
Discover more from SahanPost - English
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.