Oog, Sool (WDN) – In a dramatic and potentially destabilizing move, Somaliland’s military is reportedly preparing a coordinated three-front offensive in the Sool region, just days ahead of Somali Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre’s anticipated visit to the recently liberated city of Las Anod.

According to high-level security sources, the plan was hatched during an emergency closed-door meeting held Monday at Somaliland’s Oog military base. Presiding over the session was General Nuh Ismail Taani (commonly known as General Niman Gaah-Nug), the commander-in-chief of Somaliland’s armed forces. Attendees, including top-ranking field officers, are said to have signed off on simultaneous strikes against Buqdharkayn, Qorilugud, and Erigabo—key strategic areas currently under the control of the SSC-Khatumo Interim Administration.

Timing Is Everything

The timing of the military escalation is no coincidence. PM Hamza’s upcoming visit to Las Anod is being hailed as a historic gesture of federal solidarity with SSC-Khatumo, a grassroots administration that rose from a popular uprising and succeeded in pushing Somaliland forces out of the region in early 2023.

By launching a surprise offensive, insiders suggest, Hargeisa is gambling on turning the narrative: from one of liberation and legitimacy to one of chaos and contested control. “This is not just a military move; it’s a PR offensive meant to portray Las Anod as a powder keg,” said a regional analyst familiar with the situation.

A Three-Front War Plan

If executed, this would mark the most ambitious operation by Somaliland’s military since its forces were expelled from Las Anod last year. The plan includes:

• Disruption of PM Visit: Deliberately timed attacks designed to overshadow Prime Minister Barre’s visit, aimed at delegitimizing Mogadishu’s recognition of SSC-Khatumo.
• Geographic Spread: The launch of near-simultaneous assaults on three different fronts, possibly to overstretch SSC-Khatumo’s defenses.
• Psychological Warfare: A calculated move to project strength and instill uncertainty in the population of liberated areas.

SSC-Khatumo: “We Will Not Be Intimidated”

In response, leaders of SSC-Khatumo are calling the alleged assault plan a last-ditch effort by Somaliland to reclaim lost ground—both physically and politically. Speaking from Las Anod, SSC spokesperson Ali Hassan Xirsi dismissed the threats as the tantrums of a fading regime.

“Las Anod is free, and its people have spoken,” said Xirsi. “These threats from Hargeisa are not just irrational—they’re dangerous. The world must hold Somaliland accountable if they proceed with this reckless aggression.”

No Comment from Hargeisa

Despite mounting reports, Somaliland authorities have remained tight-lipped. General Gaah-Nug’s office declined to respond to inquiries, dismissing the leaks as “fabricated rumors.” Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs doubled down on its longstanding claim to Las Anod, calling it “an inseparable part of Somaliland.”

Access to conflict zones remains highly restricted, and independent verification of troop movements is still ongoing.

A City Reborn, and a Region on Edge

Las Anod’s transformation from a garrisoned stronghold of Somaliland to the heart of the SSC-Khatumo administration has reshaped political dynamics in northern Somalia. Once under the shadow of suppression, the city is now a symbol of self-determination for Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn residents.

But the liberation has come at a steep price—nearly 200,000 civilians have been displaced by violence, and the scars of past clashes remain fresh.

Economic Fallout Already Felt

Beyond the military implications, the brewing conflict is also choking Somaliland’s economy. The two main commercial roads linking Hargeisa to SSC-Khatumo and Puntland have been shut down due to rising tensions. Once traversed by more than 200 cargo trucks daily, these routes were critical to Somaliland’s import-export trade.

“Trade has hit a wall,” said a logistics operator in Burco. “We’re talking about millions of dollars stalled because of this standoff.”

With supply lines severed and diplomacy all but dead, analysts warn that the renewed confrontation could spiral into a wider regional crisis, dragging the northwest back into a cycle of violence, displacement, and economic despair.

This is a developing story. Reporting from Mogadishu with additional sourcing from contacts in the Sool region.

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