{"id":263,"date":"2025-04-05T09:28:21","date_gmt":"2025-04-05T09:28:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/soolsanaagcaynorg.com\/en\/?post_type=update&p=263"},"modified":"2025-04-06T18:28:59","modified_gmt":"2025-04-06T18:28:59","slug":"evening-seminar-on-the-las-anod-conflict","status":"publish","type":"update","link":"https:\/\/soolsanaagcaynorg.com\/en\/update\/evening-seminar-on-the-las-anod-conflict\/","title":{"rendered":"Evening seminar on the Las Anod conflict"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nNovember 2023\n<\/div>

\nEvening seminar on the Las Anod conflict\n<\/h2>
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On November 22, 2023, an open event about the conflict in Las Anod (Somali: Laascaanood) was organized, where Somalia experts, authors, and politicians discussed the situation in northern Somalia and the conflict. Las Anod (Somali: Laascaanood) is a strategically important city in northern Somalia and the capital of the Sool region. With an estimated population of over 300,000 inhabitants (2025), it is one of the largest cities in the Sool, Sanaag & Cayn regions. Las Anod has long been a vital hub for trade and transportation in northern Somalia, thanks to its unique location at the mouth of the Nugaal Valley. The city is also a crucial trade route for livestock exports in northern Somalia, owing to its strategic position near the Ethiopian border and its role as a central hub for nomadic pastoralists from the SSC regions.<\/p>\n

On February 6, 2022, violent clashes erupted in the city, resulting in more than 185,000 people being forced to flee their homes, 89 percent of whom were women and children. You can read more about the conflict on our information page here.<\/p>\n

The evening was intended to provide an important platform for Swedish-Somalis particularly those with roots in northern Somalia (Sool, Sanaag, Cayn\/SSC region) to discuss the conflict and foster a sense of community and agency for those feeling helpless about the situation. For many, this conflict is not just a news story but a personal issue that directly affects relatives, friends, and others still living in Somalia. By getting involved, Swedish-Somalis can play a key role in promoting peace and development in Las Anod.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\nMohamed Shine Ismail\n<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
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The\u00a0Vice-Chairman of SSC-Khatumo<\/strong>\u00a0delivered a keynote address addressing the aftermath of the ongoing conflict, providing an in-depth analysis of the current situation with a focus on its humanitarian and political dimensions. He underscored the severe\u00a0humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region<\/strong>, including mass displacement, disrupted livelihoods, and urgent needs for medical and food aid. He introduced\u00a0SSC-Khatumo as a newly established and fully legitimate governing authority in the region<\/strong>, entrusted with the mandate to reestablish law and order.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Politically, he emphasized the\u00a0struggle for self-determination<\/strong>, regional stability, and the challenges posed by competing territorial claims. His remarks called for immediate international intervention to alleviate suffering and support a sustainable resolution to the conflict.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\nDr. Markus V. Hoehne\n<\/h2>
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Professor Dr. Markus V. Hoehne<\/strong>, a distinguished scholar in social anthropology and conflict studies at Leipzig University, has dedicated a significant part of his academic career to studying Somalia, with particular focus on the northern part of the country \u2013 including the federal member states,\u00a0SSC-Khatumo<\/strong>,\u00a0Somaliland<\/strong>, and\u00a0Puntland<\/strong>. His work highlights the\u00a0complex political<\/strong>\u00a0and social dynami<\/strong>cs that characterize the region, where historical divisions, clan-based power struggles, and competing visions of statehood continually collide.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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