Somalia Appoints Committee to Oversee Formation of SSC-Khaatumo Interim Administration

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s Ministry of Interior and Reconciliation has named an eight-member technical committee to steer the formation of an interim administration for the newly recognized SSC-Khaatumo federal member state.

The decision, announced on Saturday, marks a significant step in formalizing governance structures in the northern regions of Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn, months after Mogadishu granted SSC-Khaatumo official recognition following prolonged conflict with Somaliland forces.

The ministry said the committee will guide the establishment of administrative institutions in accordance with Somalia’s constitution and national reconciliation policy. Dr. Ahmednur Mohamed Abdi was appointed as committee chair, with Abdinasir Haji Mohamed named as deputy.

The committee also includes representatives with roots in the Sanaag region, an inclusion seen by analysts as a deliberate signal that the federal government considers Sanaag part of the evolving SSC-Khaatumo entity.

The formation of SSC-Khaatumo follows nearly a year of fighting around Las Anod, where local fighters clashed with Somaliland troops.

In early 2023, elders and community leaders from Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn held a series of consultative meetings and declared their intention to sever ties with Somaliland, opting instead to establish an autonomous administration under the Somali federal framework.

In May, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre made a high-profile visit to Las Anod, formally recognizing SSC-Khaatumo as Somalia’s newest federal member state. The move was hailed by residents and regional leaders as a milestone in their political struggle and was widely seen as a turning point in the long-contested status of the northern regions.

With the new committee in place, the federal government hopes to accelerate the rollout of governance and service delivery in SSC-Khaatumo. The move is expected to pave the way for broader reconciliation and integration efforts in the region.