LAS ANOD, Somalia – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in the northern city of Las Anod on Friday, marking the first presidential visit in four decades, and was formally welcomed by federal and regional officials, traditional elders and security leaders, authorities said.
President Mohamud was greeted at Las Anod Airport by officials from the federal government and the North Eastern regional administration, including its president, Abdulkadir Ahmed Aw-Ali, also known as Firdhiye, along with representatives from local communities.
Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, most of his cabinet ministers and several pro-government politicians have also visited Las Anod in recent days, showing the federal government’s support for the local administration.
Both Mohamud and Barre are attending the inauguration ceremony of Firdhiye as leader of the North Eastern administration, which is taking place in Las Anod, officials said.
Security has been tightened across the city ahead of the event. Authorities imposed a curfew and suspended the movement of people and vehicles within Las Anod for 48 hours. Security forces deployed along the administration’s borders were also ordered to halt traffic entering and leaving the city.
Several senior federal officials are currently in Las Anod, including the national police chief, the head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency, members of parliament and others.
President Mohamud’s visit comes amid tensions between Somalia’s federal government and Somaliland, following Israel’s recent recognition of the breakaway region.
The visit is widely seen as an attempt to signal to the international community that Somalia maintains authority over parts of the north claimed by Somaliland.