Puntland authorities have declared that they do not recognize the SSC-Khaatumo administration, asserting that there is no legal basis for a separate regional government representing the Dhulbahante community.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the Puntland Ministry of Interior acknowledged the Dhulbahante community’s role in the re-liberation of Las Anod on February 6, 2023, but rejected the creation of an independent administration in the area.“The Puntland government clearly states that there is no law that allows the Dhulbahante community to form a separate administration,” the ministry said.
The statement emphasized that all clans residing in Sool, Cayn, and the wider Dhulbahante territories have been integral to Puntland since its founding in 1998.
Puntland also condemned what it described as interference by the Federal Government of Somalia in its internal security affairs. The ministry warned that such actions could destabilize the region and create openings for terrorist groups such as al-Shabaab and ISIS.
In response, the SSC-Khaatumo administration firmly defended its legitimacy.
“The existence of SSC is not up for debate,” said SSC-Khaatumo Vice President Dr. Mohamed Ismail Shiine. “The statement from the Ministry of Interior of Puntland is unfortunate. The SSC-Khaatumo administration is a member state of the country’s federal system, and no one is allowed to question its existence.”
The exchange comes amid a high-level conference in Las Anod, the capital of the Sool region, aimed at finalizing SSC-Khaatumo’s transition from an interim authority to a full-fledged federal member state. The Federal Government of Somalia officially recognized SSC-Khaatumo earlier this year after months of fighting with Somaliland forces and shifting political dynamics in northern Somalia.
