After a historic prisoner exchange in April, it remains to be seen whether two rival administrations in Somalia will move towards peace. The self-declared Republic of Somaliland and the autonomous Puntland State on April 30 carried out a prisoner swap after years of tension. At Hargeisa airport, Somaliland handed over 11 Puntland-linked detainees, while Puntland released 15 former Somaliland fighters captured during clashes in the contested town of Las Anod in 2023.
The conflict in Las Anod— located in the Sool region—escalated when local clans rose up against Somaliland rule. Puntland had supported the Las Anod protesters with arms and money, helping them to drive out Somaliland forces in August 2023. The conflict in Las Anod killed at least 299 people, injured at least 1,913, and displaced more than 200,000.
Against this backdrop, the prisoner exchange was presented by both governments as a confidence-building gesture. Somaliland’s Justice Minister Yonis Ahmed Yonis said the swap reflected, “our government’s commitment to peaceful coexistence and reconciliation,” and an example of Somaliland abiding by international standards on treating prisoners of war. Puntland’s Justice Minister Mohamed Wahaab similarly described it as “more than a political act – it’s an expression of humanity,” and a “concrete step toward rebuilding trust.”
Family members wept as they reunited with their loved ones who had been imprisoned. Meanwhile, elders and civil society groups used the occasion to call for peace. No formal peace talks were announced and tensions remain. However, observers saw the exchange as a hopeful sign. It marked the second coordinated release of prisoners tied to the Las Anod conflict.
Since the prisoner exchange, there have been more developments in the situation. In May, Somaliland’s new president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, told The Guardian that Somaliland will “likely” win the acceptance of its right to self-determination, after declaring independence from Somalia 34 years ago. Abdullahi said that US officials had recently visited Hargeisa, and Somaliland sources said there were signs that US President Donald Trump could be the first leader to recognize Somaliland. However, the US did not yet have any formal arrangement with the territory.
It remains to be seen how independence for Somaliland could impact the possibilities of peace with Puntland, particularly concerning the regions of Sool and Sanaag and the Ayn area of Togdheer region, which are all disputed between the two territories.
The conflict between Somaliland and Putland has been shaped by several factors, particularly colonialism, clan disputes, and political issues. In 1991, Somaliland unilaterally declared itself independent from the rest of Somalia. The territory is often viewed as much more stable than the rest of Somalia. However, the conflict with Putland over its land remains, and the international community does not officially recognize Somaliland as a state.
Keywords: Somaliland, Puntland, conflict, conflict resolution, peace, prisoner exchange, historic, Somalia, Las Anod
Tara Abhasakun is Peace News Network (PNN)'s managing editor. She is journalist based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and formerly in Bangkok, Thailand. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
