By Shire Abdi - Reporter
Somalia, 16 January 2026 The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, on Friday arrived in Las Anod, the administrative capital of the North East State, to attend the inauguration of the region’s elected leaders.
President Hassan Sheikh and his delegation were received at Saado Ali Airport by senior federal and regional officials, as well as local community representatives.
He will witness the inauguration the North East State President Abdikadir Ahmed Aw-Ali and his deputy, who were elected on August 30, 2025. The ceremony is considered historic, as it marks the completion of the formation process of the new federal member state.
Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, arrived in Las Anod earlier, leading a separate high-level delegation. Earlier, several federal cabinet ministers, along with the heads of the National Intelligence and Security Agency and the Somali Police Force, had already landed in the city—underscoring the political and security significance of the event.
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Security across Las Anod has been significantly tightened. Federal and regional security forces are jointly ensuring the safety of delegations and guests. The North Eastern State administration has issued an official security directive, including restrictions on general movement within the city for two days, to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of the inauguration ceremony.
The President’s visit highlights the Federal Government’s full support for the establishment and legal recognition of the North East State administration. The President of North Eastern State is set to officially assume office 139 days after his election, marking the conclusion of a critical political transition.
North Eastern State is the sixth federal member state in Somalia’s federal system, replacing the former interim SSC-Khaatumo administration. The move is widely seen as strengthening national unity, state-building efforts, and the implementation of Somalia’s federal governance framework.
