MOGADISHU, Somalia – On May 15, 2024, Abdikadir Ahmed Aw-Ali Firdhiye, the leader of the Interim Administration of SSC-Khatumo, delivered a briefing to the National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting in Mogadishu, Somalia.
The meeting, which was presided over by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at The Villa Somalia, focused on the pressing issues of security and humanitarian conditions in the region.
In his address, Firdhiye provided an overview of the current security situation in SSC-Khatumo, highlighting the efforts being made to ensure stability and safety in the region.
He stressed the importance of addressing the complex and serious security challenges that the area faces, echoing the sentiments of Isha Dyfan, the UN independent human rights expert on Somalia, who had called for increased efforts to tackle the country’s security issues just days earlier.
Firdhiye also discussed the humanitarian situation in SSC-Khatumo, emphasizing the need for equitable distribution of aid across the country, particularly to vulnerable areas like those in SSC-Khatumo.
The administration has urged the Federal Government of Somalia to channel humanitarian projects directly to SSC-Khatumo rather than routing them through Somaliland, expressing concerns that doing so might suggest that the government still considers SSC-Khatumo areas as part of Somaliland.
The NCC meeting comes at a crucial time as Somalia and the region of SSC-Khatumo face various challenges, including recent conflicts and natural disasters that have led to massive displacement and the killing of scores of people.
The situation in areas such as Lascaanod town has been particularly dire, with conflict between the Somaliland National Army and the SSC-Khatumo forces of the Dhulbahante causing significant suffering among the local population.
In addition to discussing the security and humanitarian conditions, the meeting also served as a platform for dialogue and collaboration between the Federal Government of Somalia and the SSC-Khatumo administration.
The Federal Government has previously extended an invitation to the SSC-Khatumo leadership to engage in consultations on the situation in the region, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining the unity and cohesion of the nation while supporting peace and stability in the region.
The briefing by Abdikadir Ahmed Aw-Ali Firdhiye at the NCC meeting in Mogadishu underscores the ongoing challenges and efforts to improve the security and humanitarian conditions in SSC-Khatumo.
It highlights the importance of collaboration between the Federal Government of Somalia and the SSC-Khatimo administration in addressing these critical issues and working towards a more stable and prosperous future for the region.
