Somalia’s federal government has indicated it will treat a sliver of land straddling Somaliland and Puntland as an autonomous state, potentially heightening tensions between Mogadishu and Somaliland, who once controlled the area.
The announcement by Prime Minister Hamza Barre means SSC-Khatumo will be treated at the same level as five others: Puntland, Jubbaland, Hirshabelle, South West and Galmudug, and will be allowed to attend the national meetings of the federal government and federal states, known locally as the National Consultative Council.
