Hargeisa (SLpost)- The Somaliland government and Somalia’s federal administration appear to be competing for influence over armed fighters in the eastern Sool region, according to a source familiar with the matter, raising concerns that the rivalry could further heighten tensions around the city of Erigavo.
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi is seeking to draw former members of Somaliland’s security forces back into its ranks, while Somalia’s federal government under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is reportedly providing financial support to some of the same fighters, according to reports by local media outlets.
The reported developments could add another layer to a long-running dispute over territory and political allegiance in Eastern Sool and neighbouring Sanaag regions where Somaliland faces opposition from armed groups and local authorities aligned with Somalia.
Reports added that Somaliland on October 3 paid military salaries to about 2,000 fighters from the Jamac Siyad clan of the Dhulbahante community. The fighters were described as having previously served in Somaliland’s armed forces.
Two days later, Somalia’s federal government reportedly made payments to the same 2,000 fighters as well as another 2,000 undergoing training at Goja-Adde, a former Somaliland military facility near Las Aanod City, the Capital of Sool Region
Somalilandpost News could not independently verify the payments, the number of fighters involved or the source of the funds.
Tensions around Erigavo
The reported financial support comes amid allegations that fighters associated with Abdiqadir Firdhiye, a prominent leader among armed groups based around Las Anod, could be used in a future operation against Erigavo, the capital of Sanaag region.
Several local sources said fighters being trained at Goja-Adde could eventually be deployed toward Erigavo.
The reports also alleged that the fighters could receive new weapons and drones, with Turkey and Egypt identified as possible sources of military assistance.
Regional stakes
Erigavo is strategically important because of its location in Sanaag, a region where political allegiances in the eastern localities are divided among local communities.
The possibility of an offensive would present significant logistical and political challenges for any armed group seeking to seize the city.
The reports have nevertheless added to concerns among local residents and political figures that the rivalry between Hargeisa and Mogadishu could increasingly be played out through competing support for local armed forces.
Those concerns were heightened by remarks attributed to Garaad Jama Garaad Ismail, a traditional leader of the Jama Siyaad clan. He was quoted as saying that people in Erigavo who could accept neither peace nor conflict should leave the city.
The remarks have been interpreted by some observers as a warning of possible confrontation, although they do not by themselves establish that an attack is being planned.
Contest over Sool and Sanaag
The reported payments underscore the importance of local armed groups in the broader political struggle between Somaliland and Somalia.
The dispute intensified after fighting erupted in and around Las Anod in 2023 between Somaliland forces and local fighters. Somaliland subsequently lost control of the city, while local authorities there declared their alignment with Somalia’s federal system.
Since then, both sides have sought to consolidate political and security influence in the wider region.
For Hargeisa, winning back former security personnel and strengthening relations with local communities could help restore its influence in eastern Sool.
For Mogadishu, maintaining financial and political ties with the same networks could help prevent Somaliland from reversing its losses.
Somaliland has not publicly confirmed that it is preparing for a confrontation in Sool, while Somalia has not publicly acknowledged the reported payments or any plan to use fighters based around Las Anod against Erigavo.
With President Irro currently abroad on an official trip to United States and UAE, it remains unclear how either government would respond if tensions around Erigavo escalate.
For now, the reports point to a contest for influence rather than a confirmed military offensive. Any attempt to expand the conflict into Sanaag, however, could further destabilise an already volatile area and complicate efforts to resolve the wider Somaliland-Somalia dispute through political means.