Somalia’s Federal Fracture: The Sanaag Standoff and Khatumo’s Cost

EDITORIAL | In the windswept reaches of northern Somalia, where clan ties and regional pride collide with the fragile scaffolding of federalism, the creation of Khatumo State has sparked a firestorm. At its core is Sanaag, a region whose elders, backed by Puntland and Sool’s leading voice, reject inclusion in the new state, accusing the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) of a power grab that defies the provisional constitution.

Garowe Online’s incisive reporting, including a seismic July 11, 2025, X post (@GaroweOnline), exposes this crisis: Mogadishu’s push to fold Sanaag and Haylaan into Khatumo, against local will, threatens not just regional stability but the soul of Somalia’s federal project.

The saga begins in Las Anod, the heart of Khatumo’s emergence. In 2023, the Dhulbahante clan, bolstered by Puntland’s clan networks, fought to liberate attributes this victory to the “combined support of clans in Puntland,” which drove out Somaliland forces at a cost of hundreds dead and 200,000 displathe city from Somaliland’s grasp. Garowe Online’s July 5, 2025, coverage ced. On April 14, 2025, the FGS recognized SSC-Khatumo as a federal member state, encompassing Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn. Yet, this triumph of self-determination has soured into a constitutional crisis, fueled by Mogadishu’s overreach.

Sanaag’s elders, led by Suldaan Siciid Suldaan Cabdisalaan, have drawn a firm line. On July 11, 2025, in a live broadcast that shook Somalia’s political landscape, they declared their region “part of Puntland” and uninvolved in “what is happening in Las Anod,” as reported by @GaroweOnline.

Garaad Jaamac Garaad Cali, Sool’s highest-ranking elder, amplified their stance, insisting that Sanaag cannot be included in Khatumo without its elders’ consent. Their rejection of the Khatumo initiative, backed by some Khaatumo-aligned politicians and the FGS, signals fierce resistance to centralized control. Puntland, a federal pillar, mirrors this defiance, accusing Mogadishu of using Khatumo to erode its authority.

This is no mere regional dispute but a symptom of a deeper malaise. The 2012 provisional constitution, forged through compromises like the Garowe Principles, is Somalia’s shield against centralized tyranny. Yet, Mogadishu’s push to include Sanaag without local consent flouts its mandate for consensus on regional boundaries. Puntland’s boycott of the National Consultative Council, noted by Garowe Online on April 15, 2025, and a joint rebuke from Puntland and Jubaland leaders on June 26, 2025, reveal a federation unraveling at its seams.

The irony is sharp: the FGS champions Khatumo to counter Somaliland’s secession, yet echoes the very centralization it opposes. By dismissing Sanaag’s elders, Sool’s Garaad, and Puntland, Mogadishu risks rekindling conflict in a war-scarred region. Garowe Online’s analysts warn that forcing Sanaag into Khatumo could ignite new violence, given Somaliland’s lingering claims. The constitution offers a path—dialogue, not decree—but only if President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud chooses inclusion over ambition.

Somalia’s federal vision, though bruised, endures. Mogadishu must abandon its heavy-handed tactics, convening Sanaag’s elders, Sool’s Garaad, Puntland, and Khatumo leaders to negotiate boundaries. The FGS must uphold the constitution’s call for shared power, not undermine it.

As Garowe Online’s voice reminds us, Somalia’s unity rests on respecting regional will. Las Anod’s liberation showed what clans can achieve together; Sanaag’s defiance warns of division’s cost. Mohamud must heed this, or risk a federation in flames.

Sources: Garowe Online