Laascaanood (WDN) – Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has called on the North Eastern State (NES) administration to unconditionally release prisoners captured during the conflict with Somaliland, describing the move as an important step toward reconciliation and lasting peace.
Speaking during a public address in Laascaanood on Monday evening, Prime Minister Hamza urged the regional administration to take the initiative despite the painful legacy of the conflict. “No matter how difficult it may be, North Eastern State should release the prisoners first and set the example,” the Prime Minister said.
His remarks represent one of the clearest calls yet from the Federal Government for confidence-building measures between the two sides following the bitter conflict that transformed Laascaanood into one of the most heavily contested cities in Somalia in recent years. The issue of prisoners remains among the most sensitive legacies of the war.
International humanitarian practice generally treats captured combatants as prisoners of war whose release is commonly achieved through negotiated exchanges rather than ordinary criminal prosecution. While there is no single international law governing every prisoner exchange, such arrangements are typically guided by the Geneva Conventions, humanitarian principles, negotiated political agreements, and long-established military practice.
For many residents of North Eastern State, however, the issue extends beyond legal principles. The memory of the intense shelling that struck Laascaanood during the conflict remains deeply embedded in public consciousness. Community elders and local leaders continue to recall the heavy bombardment that devastated residential neighborhoods, caused civilian casualties, and displaced thousands of families. Those painful memories have fueled strong public sentiment against releasing prisoners without accountability.
Nevertheless, many observers who talked to WardheerNews argue that genuine reconciliation requires political leaders to rise above the bitterness and grievances of war. They contend that the first essential confidence-building measure is to reduce tensions and establish a conducive environment for meaningful dialogue between the two sides. Such a process would lay the groundwork for broader peace negotiations, including a mutually agreed prisoner exchange as an important step toward lasting reconciliation.
Prime Minister Hamza’s appeal comes only days after the North Eastern State Parliament reportedly adopted a resolution calling for the prosecution of Somaliland prisoners currently being held in Laascaanood. His intervention therefore appears aimed at encouraging a different path—one centered on political compromise rather than judicial confrontation.
The Prime Minister also directed a message toward Somaliland’s leadership, urging it to recognize North Eastern State as a political reality and to pursue dialogue instead of continued confrontation.
He called for future negotiations to be facilitated by traditional elders and community peace committees, reflecting the longstanding Somali tradition of resolving complex disputes through customary mediation alongside formal political processes.
Political analysts note that prisoner exchanges have frequently served as the first practical step toward reducing hostilities in conflicts around the world. They argue that humanitarian gestures often create the trust necessary for more comprehensive negotiations addressing security, governance, and long-term political disputes.
Whether Hamza’s proposal will be accepted by either side remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the fate of the prisoners has evolved beyond a humanitarian issue. It has become a significant political test of whether North Eastern State and Somaliland are prepared to move from the battlefield toward dialogue after one of the most destructive conflicts witnessed in northern Somalia in recent years.
WardheerNews
