Puntland claims role in ousting Somaliland from Lasanod: VP Lugatoor

Puntland Vice President Ilyaas Osman Lugatoor has stated that the Puntland administration played a significant role in removing Somaliland forces from Lasanod, the capital of the Sool region.

Speaking to local media, Lugatoor claimed that Puntland deployed 97 military vehicles in support of the operation to reclaim Lasanod, which had been a flashpoint in the ongoing dispute between Somaliland and the SSC-Khaatumo movement.

He emphasized that the only senior official who had fully committed to aiding the people of Lasanod during the conflict was former Puntland Vice President Ahmed Karaash.

“I personally authorized and deployed those 97 armed vehicles,” said Lugatoor. “Even the traditional elders were not consulted. I paid the medical costs for around 2,000 wounded civilians who were transported to Garowe for treatment.”

He further asserted that Puntland should be credited for “liberating Lasanod” on 6 February, underscoring the extent of the administration’s military and humanitarian efforts during the fighting.

On public services, Lugatoor pledged swift government response to urgent needs in Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn (SSC). He noted that previous restrictions on developmental projects had been lifted and that efforts were now underway to address gaps in healthcare, education, and water supply.

“As the second-highest official representing the five million people of Puntland, I am committed to delivering what each district in SSC needs,” he said. “Healthcare centers are being prepared, schools will follow soon, and other key services are set to roll out.”

The remarks come as Puntland positions itself as a key stakeholder in the evolving federal landscape, amid the recent announcement of a new federal member state—Northeastern State—based in the same contested territories.