#Afar People’s Party accuses #Somali Region of violating boundaries with new administrative restructuring
The Afar People’s Party (APP) has strongly condemned a recent decision by the Somali Regional Council to approve 14 new woredas (districts) and 4 new zones, alleging that the move constitutes a breach of Afar’s territorial integrity and threatens the fragile peace between the two regions.
On Saturday, 27 July, the Council approved the establishment of 14 new woredas, four zonal administrations, and 25 municipal leadership offices. Mohammed Adam, Head of the Somali Region’s Communication Bureau, told Addis Standard that the changes are “strictly internal” and “do not involve any redrawing of administrative boundaries.”
The statement from APP comes in the context of a fragile peace process that began in April 2024, when the Islamic Affairs Supreme Council brokered a ceasefire between the two regions. This was followed by the formation of a National Committee tasked with resolving the Somali–Afar conflict. On September 13, 2024, the committee announced a formal “cessation of hostilities” after evaluating the success of its first operational phase.
APP warned the decision could incite renewed violence. “At a time when our country is recovering from the northern war and striving to strengthen internal peace, this action is an invitation to another war,” the statement cautioned.
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