SOMALILAND-KHATUMO CONFLICT DYNAMICS AND PATHWAYS TO PEACE

This policy brief examines the Somalia-Somaliland conflict, intensified by Somaliland’s 2024 port deal with Ethiopia and Somalia’s recent push to integrate the breakaway Khatumo region into its federal system. This move, aimed at undermining Somaliland’s claim over the east, risks triggering broader regional instability. External actors like the UAE, Turkey, Egypt, and the U.S. have further complicated the landscape. Despite escalating violence, especially in the Khatumo region, the brief highlights the potential of grassroots-led peace efforts. It urges inclusive dialogue, support for Somaliland’s Peace Commission, and coordinated international engagement to prevent further fragmentation and promote lasting stability.