HARGEISA (SD) — Somaliland has called on the United Nations to respect established diplomatic procedures when its senior officials visit politically and security-sensitive areas such as Las Anod, following a recent UN delegation visit to the city.

In a statement, Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the government remains committed to facilitating humanitarian assistance to people in need, including residents of Las Anod. However, it stressed that visits by senior UN officials to sensitive areas should be conducted with prior notification, consultation and formal coordination with Somaliland authorities.

Somaliland said it values its longstanding relationship with the United Nations and remains committed to continued cooperation, but expects the UN to use official channels when conducting activities in areas that Somaliland considers part of its territory.

The statement followed a visit to Las Anod by a UN delegation led by George Conway, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia and Humanitarian Coordinator, who met with local authorities to discuss humanitarian and UN cooperation.

The statement reflects a broader concern in Hargeisa that international organizations could inadvertently give political legitimacy to authorities or administrations operating in areas claimed by Somaliland without adequately consulting Somaliland’s government.

From Somaliland’s perspective, the issue is therefore not simply about a UN humanitarian visit. It touches on the larger question of who has administrative and political authority over Las Anod and the wider Sool region.

Somaliland’s insistence on prior coordination is also consistent with its broader effort to have international organizations treat Hargeisa as the responsible authority for activities conducted inside territory it claims to govern.

The UN, however, operates in a complicated environment in Somalia and frequently engages with different local authorities to deliver humanitarian assistance and assess conditions on the ground.

That creates a difficult balance. Humanitarian access should not become unnecessarily politicized, but Somaliland also has a legitimate interest in knowing when major international organizations conduct politically sensitive activities in areas it claims as its territory.

The strongest position for Hargeisa would therefore be to continue supporting humanitarian access while firmly requesting transparency and consultation.

The dispute illustrates how Las Anod remains both a humanitarian issue and a highly sensitive political question.

Somaliland’s message to the UN is essentially: humanitarian cooperation is welcome, but politically sensitive engagement must respect Somaliland’s authorities and established diplomatic channels.

How the UN responds could have wider implications for Somaliland’s relationship with international organizations and for the international community’s approach to the unresolved status of Las Anod and the wider Sool region.