Lasanod–(Puntland Mirror) Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, made a historic visit on Saturday to the city of Lasanod, the administrative capital of the SSC-Khatumo region.
This marks the first time in decades that a senior Somali official has visited the city. The last leader to do so was former President Mohamed Siad Barre, who visited Lasanod in 1986.
With this trip, Prime Minister Hamza has also made history as the first sitting Somali prime minister to ever visit the city. He was received at the airport by the President of SSC-Khatumo, Abdulkadir Ahmed Firdhiye. The Prime Minister was accompanied by several cabinet members, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Interior, and the Somali Police Commissioner.
Hundreds of residents, many dressed in clothes bearing the blue Somali flag and the SSC-Khatumo emblem, lined the streets to welcome the Prime Minister. Speaking at the airport, Hamza said that his visit aimed to promote Somali unity.
Just a year ago, residents of SSC-Khatumo launched an armed uprising against the separatist Somaliland administration. The conflict, which lasted nine months and claimed many lives, ultimately led to the withdrawal of Somaliland forces from SSC territory after 15 years of control.
Despite not yet being formally recognized as a federal member state, the people of SSC-Khatumo are striving to establish their own administration within Somalia’s federal system
