Interior Ministry Releases Statement on the Finalisation of the State Formation of the North-Eastern State of Somalia

Las’anod, (SONNA) — The Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation (MolFAR) is honoured to announce the successful finalisation of the state-formation process of the NorthEast State of Somalia, which has now become a member of the officially recognised Federal Member States of the Federal Government of Somalia. This process has been a long journey of resilience, dialogue and determination. Beginning with the interim SSC-Khaatumo administration established in August 2023, the people of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn built a temporary governance arrangement tasked with guiding the community towards permanent statehood. Over the past two years, through consultations, constitutional drafting and consensus-building, the interim administration fulfilled its mandate and prepared the ground for today's achievement. A major step in this process was the 'Shirweynaha Ergada' (Delegate Conference) held in Laascaanood in July 2025. 432 officially selected representatives, drawn from the more than 2,000 delegates who had gathered in the city including traditional leaders, community elders, religious scholars, business leaders, women, youth, intellectuals, politicians and members of the diaspora, convened to discuss, debate and adopt the draft Constitution of the new state. The conference provided the process with legitimacy, inclusivity and genuine ownership by the people. The process moved to its historic conclusion with -

• The adoption of a State Constitution by the Delegate Conference on 30th July 2025,
• The formation of the 83-member State Parliament on 17th August 2025,
• The election of the Speaker and deputies on 23rd August 2025 and
• The election of the President and Vice President on 30th August 2025.

For fifty-three days without interruption, the Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation remained in Las'anood to personally oversee, facilitate and witness this milestone. The Ministry expresses deep gratitude to the traditional leaders, community leaders, delegates and the security forces, as well as the people of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn, for their tireless efforts and sacrifices in making this achievement possible. The Ministry extends special recognition to the Technical Committee for the State Formation, whose dedication and professionalism were vital to the success of this process. Their role in organising consultations, facilitating dialogue and overseeing the Delegate Conference was central in guiding the transition to permanent Federal Member State and ensuring credibility and trust throughout the process. The Ministry congratulates the newly elected President, Vice President, Speaker and his deputies and all Members of Parliament of the North-East State and reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the Federal Government of Somalia to work closely with the new state in the spirit of unity, cooperation, reconciliation and federalism. The successful transition from an interim administration, through an inclusive delegate-led state-formation process, to a permanent Federal Member State is not only a victory for the people of the North-East State but also a significant step forward in Somalia's federalisation and state-building journey.