Senior leaders of the Federal Republic of Somalia attended the official inauguration of the President of the North Eastern State Administration, Abdiqadir Aw Ali Firdhiye, held in Las Anod.

The ceremony was attended by the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud; the Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre; leaders of the Galmudug and North Eastern State administrations; senior officials of the Federal Government; and diplomatic representatives from Djibouti, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. A number of speeches were delivered addressing national unity, federalism, sovereignty, and regional cooperation.

In his address, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated that the North Eastern State is a fully recognized federal member state and an integral part of the Somali federal system. He described Las Anod as a city that symbolizes national unity and affirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting stability and cohesion. The President also pledged that the Federal Government would facilitate a prisoner exchange between Somaliland and the North Eastern State administration. He further reiterated that Somalia is a sovereign state and stressed that any actions undermining its independence or territorial integrity are unacceptable.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, speaking during the ceremony, criticized the absence of some federal member state leaders, describing their non-attendance as inappropriate given the national importance of the occasion.

Representing Djibouti, the Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Hassan Moumin Barre, reaffirmed his country’s continued support for Somalia’s unity and independence, emphasizing that Somalia’s stability and cohesion are of shared regional importance.

In his inaugural remarks, President Abdiqadir Aw Ali Firdhiye stated that his administration would work to strengthen national unity and safeguard Somalia’s sovereignty, adding that it would reject any actions that undermine the country’s independence.

The President of Galmudug also expressed full support for the newly established North Eastern State administration, underscoring a shared commitment among federal member states to promote unity, cooperation, and long-term stability across Somalia.