Somalia Plans New Northern Military Command in North Eastern State Amid Tensions with Somaliland
The Federal Government of Somalia is moving to establish a new Somali National Army regional command in North Eastern State, a step that would expand federal military coordination in the north and is expected to draw criticism from Somaliland.
According to information obtained by Somali Report, the planned command will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing SNA units operating in northern Somalia. The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the federal government to improve military organization, command efficiency, and operational coordination in areas where federal forces have maintained an increasing presence.
As part of the preparations, the Commander of the Somali National Army Ground Forces, General Khalid, has traveled to Las Anod, where he is overseeing the final administrative and operational arrangements required before the new command is formally launched.
Sources familiar with the process say the visit is intended to complete the institutional framework for the command, including command structures, logistical planning, and personnel organization. The headquarters is expected to operate directly under the authority of the Federal Government of Somalia through the Somali National Army.
If established, the new regional command would become one of the most strategically positioned federal military headquarters in the country, overseeing SNA operations across parts of northern Somalia. Officials believe the command could improve coordination among military units, facilitate quicker operational responses, and strengthen federal oversight of security activities in the region.
The planned command also carries considerable political significance. Its location would place it closer to territories claimed by Somaliland than any other existing federal military headquarters, a development that could further complicate relations between Mogadishu and Hargeisa.
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Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and continues to seek international recognition, has consistently opposed the expansion of federal institutions into areas it considers part of its territory. The administration in Hargeisa also does not recognize the North Eastern State administration led by President Abdikadir Firdhiye.
The establishment of a permanent federal military command in the region is therefore likely to be viewed by Somaliland as another assertion of Mogadishu's authority in disputed areas, potentially adding a new dimension to the longstanding political and territorial disagreements between the two sides.
The federal government has not yet announced an official date for the inauguration of the new command or released detailed information regarding its size, personnel strength, or operational mandate. However, military officials indicate that preparations are progressing and that the command structure is nearing completion.
Security analysts note that the creation of regional military commands has become an important component of Somalia's wider security reforms as the country continues efforts to strengthen national institutions and assume greater responsibility for its own security. The establishment of the northern command would further expand the Somali National Army's organizational structure and could play an important role in coordinating federal military operations across the northern regions.
Observers will be watching closely to see how the initiative is implemented and whether it prompts political or diplomatic reactions from Somaliland, as both sides continue to maintain sharply different positions regarding authority and governance in the disputed territories.
About the Author
Bashir Guhad is a reporter at Somali Report covering politics, security, business, and trade across the Somali region.