Badhan (WDN)— In a bold and unequivocal statement, the traditional elders (Isimada) of the Sanaag and Haylaan regions have firmly rejected claims linking their territories to the self-declared SSC-Khatumo administration. In a press release issued, the elders reaffirmed their historical and constitutional allegiance to the Puntland State of Somalia, calling on both the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and SSC-Khatumo leaders to cease political meddling in their affairs.
The rare joint statement comes amid escalating political maneuvering by federal-aligned actors seeking to redraw the political map of northeastern Somalia. According to the Isimada, however, the unity and territorial integrity of Puntland remain intact, and attempts to undermine it will not be tolerated.
“The regions of Sanaag and Haylaan are integral parts of Puntland. Nothing has changed,” the statement declared.
The elders flatly denied participating in any political conference related to SSC-Khatumo, including the controversial gathering recently held in Laascaanood. They emphasized that no individual or group has the mandate to represent Sanaag and Haylaan at that forum and warned that any outcome emerging from it does not reflect the will of the people in their regions.
“We clarify that there is no person or delegation representing us at the Laascaanood conference,” the elders said. “We were not involved, and we are not part of any political agreements or decisions that may emerge from it.”
The Isimada also directed a pointed message to fellow elders from the Siciid Harti community, demanding a “full and public apology” for what they called an “unwarranted interference” in the internal affairs of Sanaag and Haylaan clans.
In a wider appeal to the international community, the elders stated unequivocally that they are not party to any new state-building efforts or administrative realignments, urging foreign partners to disregard any claims of representation not rooted in traditional or legal authority.
“We have not entered into talks with any group or administration seeking to establish a new government. These matters lie exclusively with the legitimate elders of our regions, not with opportunistic political actors,” the statement read.
The elders also issued a strong warning to the Federal Government in Mogadishu, urging President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration to focus on its national mandate rather than fueling clan tensions and regional instability.
“The Federal Government must fulfill its responsibilities and avoid instigating conflicts among neighboring and brotherly communities,” they cautioned.
The elders’ statement arrives at a time of growing tension between Puntland and the Federal Government over control and influence in disputed territories. The FGS has been accused by Puntland leaders of covertly backing SSC-Khatumo in an attempt to peel Sanaag and other border regions away from Puntland’s orbit—an allegation Mogadishu denies.
Puntland, established in 1998 as Somalia’s first federal member state, continues to enjoy a well-established traditional leadership structure, where elders play a central role in political consensus-building. Attempts to bypass these traditional power brokers are often seen as illegitimate and destabilizing.
The rejection of SSC-Khatumo by Sanaag and Haylaan’s traditional leadership is a serious setback for federal actors seeking to reconfigure regional alignments in favor of Villa Somalia. It also highlights the enduring influence of Puntland’s traditional governance model, where consensus among elders holds greater weight than political appointments from Mogadishu.
With clan dynamics being central to Somali politics, the elders’ declaration sends a powerful message: that legitimacy in the region cannot be manufactured through federal backchannels or political convenience.
WardheerNews