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HARGEISA, 3 November 2026 — Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro has accused Somalia's federal government of trying to station army troops in eastern Sool, warning his administration would resist any such deployment.
Irro was speaking at a ceremony in Hargeisa marking the 33rd anniversary of the Somaliland Police Force. He said the federal government's attempt to deploy forces from the 26th Division in eastern Sool had failed again.
His remarks came after Northeast State TV reported on its Facebook page that the commander of the Somali National Army's 26th Division, Abdirahman Awad Abdirahman, had arrived in Togdheer region.
"These moves show that the brotherhood Hassan Sheikh talks about in the media is not matched by his actions," Irro said, referring to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. He accused Mogadishu of "stoking new conflict."
Irro said lightly armed Somaliland civilians had previously defeated better-equipped forces, adding that Somaliland was now an established state able to confront what he called militias mobilised from Mogadishu.
"The only thing the Somali people need today is stability and peace," he said.
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He also said weapons supplied to Mogadishu by major foreign powers were ending up with the Islamist militant group al Shabaab and clan militias.
"I hope this reckless decision by the Somalis becomes an opportunity for our forces to acquire the modern weapons and equipment that some of the world's major powers are pouring into Mogadishu in excess," he said.
He accused the federal government of using international assistance meant to stabilise Somalia to undermine stability in Somaliland.
Somaliland claims the Sool region. In 2023, however, local forces drove Somaliland troops out of Las Anod, the regional capital, after months of fighting. The area is now administered by Northeast State, which rejects Hargeisa's authority.
The federal government has not officially said whether national army forces will be stationed in the area or whether a base will be set up there.