Somaliland President champions faith, national unity, and moral leadership at historic mosque opening.

President Irro attends the inauguration of Hargeisa’s newly constructed six-story Nurul Hudaa Mosque, emphasizing faith, national unity, and his administration’s commitment to peace.

In just four short months since taking office, President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro has demonstrated unwavering dedication to building a united and peaceful Somaliland. His leadership exemplifies humility, compassion, and a deep commitment to fostering harmony among all citizens. Under his guidance, Somaliland is experiencing a new era where faith and national unity serve as the pillars supporting its bright future.

Recently, President Irro attended the grand inauguration of the magnificent Nurul Hudaa Mosque in Hargeisa—a symbol of spiritual strength and community resilience. The six-story mosque, a marvel of architecture and devotion, stands proudly in the heart of Somaliland’s capital, inviting people from all walks of life to come together in prayer and reflection.

This momentous occasion was more than just the opening of a religious center; it was a celebration of Somaliland’s enduring unity and faith. President Irro emphasized that in Somaliland, faith is a vital thread woven into the fabric of national identity. His words resonated with hope and determination: “This mosque is a triumph of faith and solidarity, a beacon of hope for our nation’s moral and spiritual growth.”

A figure of inspiring leadership, President Irro expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed Grand Mufti of Somaliland, Sheikh Mohamed Sheikh Omer Dirir.

Grand Mufti of Somaliland, Sheikh Mohamed Sheikh Omer Dirir

The respected religious scholar has been a guiding light for Somaliland’s spiritual life, and under his wise leadership, faith continues to inspire progress and unity across the nation. The President’s admiration for Sheikh Mohamed Sheikh Omer Dirir highlights his commitment to fostering strong religious institutions that bolster peace and moral integrity.

In his address, President Irro made a compelling call for unity, emphasizing that Somaliland’s strength lies in its people’s togetherness and shared values. “Our country’s progress depends on harmony, respect, and faith in each other,” he declared. “We are committed to a humble, service-oriented government that places the well-being of our people above all else.”

Despite the challenges, President Irro’s early months in office have been marked by tangible achievements—restoring peace in Ceel-Afweyn, reopening dialogue in the Sool region, and nurturing an environment where every citizen’s voice matters. His focus is clear: unite Somaliland through peace, faith, and participatory governance.

The inauguration of the Nurul Hudaa Mosque symbolizes Somaliland’s hope for a future where spiritual and social harmony thrive side by side. President Irro’s leadership continues to be admired by the people for putting unity and moral integrity at the forefront of his presidency. His genuine dedication to serving Somaliland’s diverse communities and uplifting its spiritual fabric underscores his promise: Somaliland’s future is bright, built on the strong foundations of faith, unity, and shared values.

As Somaliland moves forward, the nation stands proud of its resilient people and visionary leader—guided by faith, strengthened by unity, and inspired by a shared dedication to peace and progress.

Ministry of Interior warns undocumented foreigners must register by May 26 for temporary stay — failure to comply will lead to legal action.

The Government of Somaliland has issued a revised directive requiring all undocumented foreign nationals within its territory to register for temporary residency by May 26, 2025, or face legal consequences.

The Ministry of Interior announced the order in a statement released Thursday, urging all foreigners without legal documentation to visit immigration offices to formalize their status. Applicants will be required to submit official forms and pay a registration tax in order to receive temporary residency permits.

“All foreigners in the country are ordered to register with the immigration departments of the Somaliland Ministry of Interior within three weeks, starting from May 6, 2025, and ending on May 26, 2025,” the statement read.

The announcement comes as a modification to a previous order issued on April 29, which had given undocumented migrants only three days to leave the country — a directive that sparked concern among foreign missions, particularly Ethiopia, which maintains close ties with Somaliland.

According to diplomatic sources, Ethiopian Special Representative Teshome Shunde Hamito met with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro earlier this week and reportedly requested an easing of the expulsion notice to better accommodate Ethiopian citizens living and working in the territory.

Thousands of Ethiopians, primarily employed in informal sectors, reside in Somaliland. The government has occasionally carried out deportations in past years as part of broader immigration enforcement measures.

Foreigners who plan to depart Somaliland have also been instructed to register their exit at official border points to avoid complications.

The Ministry warned that failure to comply by May 26 will result in legal action, but emphasized that those who register within the deadline will be granted temporary legal status.

The Quiet Revolution: How President Irro Is Reshaping Somaliland’s Future — And Why the Old Guard Should Be Terrified

In Hargeisa’s marble corridors and WhatsApp political groups, panic is setting in. Ministers who’ve coasted on clan loyalty, empty rhetoric, and ego-driven posturing are now on edge. Some haven’t slept for a week, insiders say. The whispers are turning into tremors: the Cabinet reshuffle is coming, and it’s brutal.

President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro is quietly waging a war against mediocrity, and the old guard knows it. Seven key ministries are under direct review. WARYATV has learned from senior government sources that “some ministries will be gutted entirely — deadwood will burn.” One official was heard muttering outside the presidency: “It’s over. The noise expired. The show’s finished.”

Empty Suits Are Out. Experts Are In.

This reshuffle is not about optics; it’s about survival. President Irro is done with theatrics. The new era demands competence, not Khat-fueled performances. President Irro message is clear: Welcome to the meritocracy.

Gone are the days when tribal slogans guaranteed you a ministry. One infamous minister known for more TikTok lives than policy results is said to have already cleared his desk. Another, who hadn’t submitted a single reform proposal in 4 months, reportedly burst into tears in a private cabinet pre-briefing.

“We will not build a nation on vanity,” a source close to the reshuffle committee told WARYATV. “We will build it on vision, execution, and integrity. This is the President’s red line.”

The Sound of Silence — And Fear

Unlike previous reshuffles that were teased in advance or leaked for clan appeasement, Irro has gone quiet. That silence is now a weapon. Every hour of no-news drives the unqualified deeper into paranoia. One senior official, famous for his loud tribal boasts, is said to be calling diaspora relatives for last-minute endorsements. Another, nicknamed “Minister Google Translate” for copying foreign speeches, is now lobbying influencers.

They know their time is up.

From Clownery to Clarity

No more empty suits. No more tribal shortcuts. No more ministry-as-reward schemes. President Irro is dismantling the old scaffolding of Somaliland’s politics and rebuilding it brick by brick. This is about national direction, not dinner invitations.

He’s calling for economists, technocrats, educators, cybersecurity experts, and foreign policy minds. He’s replacing theatrics with thinking. It’s no longer who you know, it’s what you bring. And for those who’ve built careers on bluff and tribal buffers, the fall will be hard.

“This is the last time Somaliland will be governed by quota and qabiil,” said a source inside the presidential advisory team. “This reshuffle is the dawn of serious nation-building.”

Lights Off, Curtain Down

To the ministers and officials who’ve held titles without impact, congratulations — your retirement from relevance is imminent. The late-night show is over. The floodlights are turning off. And in the silence, the nation will finally hear something worth listening to: competence.

This is Irro’s meritocratic revolution.

Welcome to the end of noise. Welcome to the rise of real leadership.

As Europe marks VE Day’s 80th anniversary, Somaliland’s sacrifices remain sidelined despite its troops’ loyalty in Britain’s darkest hour.

Thousands of Somaliland soldiers fought alongside British forces in WWII. On VE Day’s 80th anniversary, their bravery remains largely unrecognized—sparking calls for historical justice.

As Britain and its allies commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day—marking the defeat of Nazi Germany—one crucial chapter remains missing from the global remembrance: the story of Somaliland’s forgotten heroes.

In a heartfelt interview with Nation.Cymru, Professor Eid Ali Ahmed, a Somaliland-born academic based in Wales, expressed profound dismay over the continued erasure of thousands of Somaliland soldiers who fought alongside British forces during World War II.

“It is a shame that the people of Somaliland who gave their blood for peace and freedom are not being remembered while others are honored,” Professor Eid said.

History Buried in Silence

In 1940, the Italian military launched a powerful assault on the British Protectorate of Somaliland, forcing a temporary retreat of British forces to Aden. It was a humiliating setback, but one that set the stage for an extraordinary counteroffensive. Within six months, Britain returned—this time with critical support from local Somaliland fighters—reclaiming the territory and pushing back the Italian and Somali forces loyal to Mussolini.

Despite these sacrifices, Somaliland veterans were never granted the same honors or pensions awarded to European troops. Notably, even Italian forces, once enemies of the Allies, have been more visibly acknowledged in VE Day ceremonies.

The Camel Corps and the Unsung Bravery

One of the most iconic units in this overlooked history is the Somaliland Camel Corps, a rugged desert battalion that helped hold back fascist expansion across East Africa. While Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a monument to this unit in 2002, broader recognition for their sacrifices remains alarmingly absent.

Cemeteries in Hargeisa hold the names of fallen Somaliland soldiers, but their stories are not embedded in global memory. Even on VE Day’s 80th anniversary, their legacy was invisible amid the pomp and ceremony afforded to other Allied nations.

A Legacy of Loyalty—and Neglect

Professor Eid recounted the contributions of Somali troops not just in Africa but also in Burma and Tanganyika, where they supported British forces. Their involvement stretched into modern conflicts—serving as seafarers during the 1982 Falklands War.

Among those who recognized their valor was Captain Richard Darlington, a British officer so moved by Somali soldiers’ bravery that he settled in Somaliland post-war, dedicating his life to education. He received an MBE and OBE, founded Amoud High School, and was affectionately nicknamed Gacmadheere (long hand) for his charitable work.

Professor Eid, once Darlington’s student, now leads the Darlington Gacmadheere Foundation—offering scholarships to underprivileged Somaliland students. Yet even this living legacy struggles to fill the void left by Britain’s institutional silence.

“It is time,” says Professor Eid, “for Somaliland’s veterans to be honored—not just in stone, but in public memory, textbooks, and history.”

Eighty years after VE Day, the people of Somaliland continue to ask one simple thing: Remember us.

As a new electoral commission looms, fear grips while Irro’s reform agenda reshapes the battlefield ahead of municipal and House of Representatives polls.

The real war for Somaliland’s future won’t be fought in presidential palaces or televised debates—it will be decided at the ballot box in 2026, when voters return to elect a new House of Representatives and local councils across the nation. On the surface, it looks like just another electoral cycle. But beneath that calm, insiders whisper: this one will shake the political foundations of Somaliland.

Why? Because this is the first major test of President Irro’s new vision of governance, meritocracy, and institutional integrity. The old script of tribal patronage, inherited seats, and rubber-stamp politics is facing its final act. The parliamentary and local council elections won’t just install new officials; they will reveal whether Somaliland is ready to transition into a mature democracy that rewards brains over bloodlines.

And the establishment is terrified.

Election Commission in Flux Behind closed doors, a major shift is already underway. The current National Electoral Commission (NEC), is quietly preparing to step aside. Sources close to the presidency confirm that discussions for appointing a new, reformed Election Commission are already in motion—and the implications are massive.

KAAH new opposition party that once mastered the art of backdoor deals and local strongman control is panicking.

From Local Power to National Symbolism In Somaliland, local elections are anything but local. They are breeding grounds for national leaders, testing grounds for policy, and platforms for party influence. A clean sweep in the municipal vote not only reshapes local governance—it rewrites the national political narrative.

President Irro knows this. His administration has quietly backed new political actors and independent candidates with clean records, strong ideas, and zero clan baggage. These candidates—many of them young professionals, women, and former civil society leaders—are preparing to challenge the dinosaurs of Somaliland politics.

2026: The Year Clan Politics Dies? Make no mistake: 2026 could mark the symbolic end of politics by clan and the beginning of real accountability. If the new electoral commission is appointed in time, and if voters embrace change over nostalgia, the results will redraw Somaliland’s political map.

This election won’t just elect representatives. It will test the credibility of Somaliland’s democratic claim before the world. It will determine whether Hargeisa’s promise of peace and governance is more than just rhetoric.

And for the old guard, it’s the beginning of the end.

Because after 2026, there may be no more hiding behind family names, no more bought ballots, no more “we were here first” excuses. The next generation of leaders is coming. And this time, they’re coming for real change.

Jirde Leads the Charge for Peace, While the Guurti Crumbles. 

(L) The chairman Peace Committee Abdiqadir Haaji Ismail Jirde (R) Speaker Saleebaan Mohamoud Adan

When President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) boldly established the Peace Committee in January 2025, appointing constitutional luminary Abdiqadir Ismail Jirde as its chairman, the old guard scoffed. They underestimated the tenacity, the integrity, and the sheer effectiveness of this new force. While the Guurti remained mired in endless debate, the Peace Committee acted.

They didn’t just talk peace; they walked it, venturing into the heart of burning conflicts armed with nothing but legitimacy and the unwavering trust of communities yearning for stability.

The results? Nothing short of revolutionary.

Ceel-Afweyn: Pacified.
Lasa nod: Dialogue Reopened.
Ethiopia’s Somali Region: Cross-border trust Established.

And the Guurti? While Somaliland bled, they clung to power, obsessed with maintaining the status quo. Now, as the nation surges forward, they can only watch and whine.

Envy: The Guurti’s Desperate Gambit

Last week, Speaker Saleebaan Mohamoud Adan, a figurehead presiding over the Guurti since the era of George W. Bush, staged a dramatic intervention, demanding the unconditional release of Khaatumo detainees. But this isn’t a genuine act of peacemaking; it’s a desperate PR stunt, a pathetic attempt to reclaim relevance.

“Where was this urgency during the darkest days of Lasa nod?” a senior political insider raged to WARYATV. “They slept through the crisis, only to wake up when Jirde delivered real progress!”

The truth is undeniable: the Guurti, blinded by arrogance, never anticipated the Peace Committee – and the legendary Jirde – stealing their thunder. Now, forced from the spotlight, their envy is palpable.

Jirde: The Legend the Guurti Can’t Touch

Abdiqadir Ismail Jirde is not just a mediator; he’s a national icon, the architect of Somaliland’s very constitution. He commands respect, not through clan allegiance or empty theatrics, but through a lifetime of unwavering dedication, sacrifice, and the laser clarity of his mission.

His words this week were a dagger to the heart of the old guard: “Peace is everyone’s concern. There is no one who is only interested in peace.”

This line resonates with a profound truth: for far too long, peace in Somaliland has been manipulated, delayed, commodified, and strangled by bureaucratic inertia. The Guurti, with their failed negotiations and wasted millions, bear the brunt of this indictment. They stood by as blood spilled, and now they are consumed by bitterness as they witness a committee, spearheaded by a President who acts instead of pontificates, achieve what they deemed impossible.

Welcome to the New Era

Somaliland is entering a new era, a paradigm shift where results matter more than rhetoric. The Jirde Committee possesses the legitimacy, the public trust, and the international recognition that the Guurti has squandered. While the elders cling to their air-conditioned chambers, their car fleets, and a rapidly disintegrating reputation, the ground is shifting beneath their feet.

The old guard is right to panic. Their time is over.

This is the end of politics by inheritance, the death knell for empty suits wielding microphones, the final curtain call for tribal cheerleaders masquerading as statesmen.

The Inevitable Silence

To the elders who laid the foundation of Somaliland, we offer a measure of respect. But to those who overstayed their welcome, who clung to titles and sabotaged progress for personal gain – your reign is ending.

When the music fades, and the crowds erupt in applause not for you, but for those who delivered peace while you delivered platitudes, the stark reality will finally dawn: legacy is earned, not inherited.

And when that final, undeserved Guurti paycheck clears, the curtain will fall, not to the sound of applause, but to the deafening silence of irrelevance.

The Peace Committee of Somaliland: Building Unity, Securing the Future

Vice President’s 70-day mission delivers peace in Ceel-Afweyn as Irro’s cabinet intensifies decentralization and 18 May celebrations.

In a session heavy with symbolism and strategy, Somaliland’s 19th Council of Ministers convened under President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) and Vice President Mohamed Ali Aw Abdi, signaling the consolidation of national peace and a bold new push for decentralization.

The session began with a powerful moment of unity: the Vice President, returning from a 70-day national peace mission, was greeted with a standing ovation—a rare gesture of reverence that mirrored the scale of his achievement. His mission report stunned the Cabinet with its twin victories: the successful national integration of civilian defense forces and the peaceful resolution of the protracted Ceel-Afweyn conflict.

What makes this feat extraordinary is its independence—achieved without foreign intervention, purely through Somaliland’s indigenous capacity for negotiation, tradition, and national will. “This peace is 100% Somali-owned,” the Vice President emphasized, crediting elders, women, and youth as co-architects of the accord.

But the Cabinet wasn’t just about retrospection—it pivoted hard toward the future.

At the heart of the session was Somaliland’s long-awaited decentralization framework, covering political, administrative, and fiscal reforms. This is no mere policy tweak—it’s a quiet revolution in governance. Ministries are now tasked with bringing services closer to the people, empowering local governments to generate and manage resources, and embedding accountability from Borama to Badhan.

If implemented effectively, this could fundamentally alter Somaliland’s development model—shifting power from Hargeisa to the hinterlands and closing the gap between government and governed. In a region where centralization often fuels conflict, this move places Somaliland ahead of its peers.

The final note was patriotic but purposeful: full mobilization for May 18, Somaliland’s independence anniversary. The Cabinet instructed all agencies to raise flags, join civic parades, and project the strength of a united republic to the world. More than a celebration, this is a message—to citizens, to Somalia, and to the international community—that Somaliland is more cohesive, peaceful, and forward-moving than ever.

President Irro’s government is no longer just reacting to crises—it is now shaping Somaliland’s destiny.

Outspoken journalist Coldoon sentenced to 6 months in prison and fined after criticizing rumored Gaza refugee plans; free speech fears escalate in Hargeisa.

Somaliland activist Abdimaliq Muse Coldoon has been sentenced to six months in jail and fined over a Facebook post. The ruling, linked to criticism of alleged Gaza refugee resettlement, sparks outrage and raises alarms over freedom of expression in Somaliland.

The jailing of Somaliland’s most defiant activist, Abdimaliq Muse Coldoon, is a thunderclap in the battle for free speech in the Horn of Africa. Sentenced to six months in prison and slapped with a 3 million SL shillings fine for a single Facebook post criticizing Gaza refugee rumors, Coldoon now symbolizes the collision between online expression and state power in Somaliland.

The verdict—issued without even disclosing formal charges—comes after Coldoon voluntarily returned from exile in April. His “crime”? Daring to write that Somaliland’s rumored plan to host Palestinian refugees made it look like a “mercenary government.” That one sentence set off a political firestorm. Coldoon, always a thorn in the side of successive administrations, faced his accusers without legal counsel—just his words.

Worse, this isn’t his first time behind bars. In 2017, he was jailed for praising Mogadishu’s President Farmaajo. In 2021, he was locked up again over vague defamation claims tied to elite schools. Each time, the state came up with a new excuse. This time, the weapon was Gaza.

Rights activists and opposition Waddani leaders are calling the latest ruling an assault on democracy. Even Justice Minister Yoonis—once Coldoon’s legal defender—denounced the verdict as “unlawful.” But the silence from President Irro’s palace is deafening.

What message does this send? That speaking truth to power in Somaliland now carries a jail term. That online speech—if it ruffles the wrong feathers—can cost you your freedom. That Somaliland, once hailed for democratic promise, may be slipping toward authoritarian reflex.

This isn’t just about Coldoon. This is about whether Somaliland, in its quest for recognition and international legitimacy, is willing to jail its own citizens to manage foreign narratives.

If this ruling stands, the next post, the next journalist, the next critic might be next.

Somaliland Activist Coldoon Arrested Again in Berbera Over Gaza Refugee Criticism