Rising tensions as SSC-Khatumo leader Abdulqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali vows military action to capture Sanaag’s capital; Somaliland faces diplomatic isolation after Ankara Agreement.
The leader of SSC-Khatumo, Abdulqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali (Firdhiye), has escalated the conflict by declaring a military campaign to capture Erigavo, the capital of the Sanaag region, from Somaliland forces. Speaking at a gathering in Lasanood, Firdhiye urged the SSC-Khatumo community to mobilize for what he called a decisive struggle for land and self-determination.
This declaration comes amid mounting tensions in the region. Firdhiye accused Somaliland forces of targeting local communities and vowed to expel them from Erigavo and other areas. His call for war follows recent skirmishes in Erigavo and highlights the growing instability in Somaliland’s eastern territories.
At the same time, Somaliland faces a significant geopolitical setback in the wake of the Ankara Agreement, which has further marginalized its position. The deal, signed by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, grants Ethiopia access to the sea via Somaliland’s port of Saylac. The arrangement, which includes the establishment of Ethiopian military and commercial facilities, effectively sidelines Somaliland and diminishes its regional influence.
The agreement has provoked outrage within Somaliland and among Red Sea nations such as Egypt, Djibouti, and Eritrea, who view Ethiopia’s military presence in Saylac as a violation of sovereignty. Egypt, in particular, has strongly opposed the move, warning of its implications for Red Sea security.
Moreover, Ethiopia and Somalia have downgraded Ethiopia’s diplomatic presence in Somaliland, closing the Ethiopian Embassy in Hargeisa and transitioning it into a consulate under Mogadishu’s authority. This symbolic shift reflects Somaliland’s diminishing recognition on the international stage.
These developments highlight the precarious position Somaliland finds itself in. Domestically, it is grappling with insurgencies like SSC-Khatumo, while externally, it faces diplomatic isolation and erosion of its autonomy. For Somaliland, the convergence of internal strife and geopolitical marginalization poses an existential challenge to its long-standing quest for independence and self-governance.
The coming months will test Somaliland’s resilience as it seeks to navigate escalating conflicts and assert its legitimacy in an increasingly hostile regional environment.
