It’s been nearly two weeks since Somaliland’s defeat in Las Anod, even though many sensible voices have spoken out about the mistakes and atrocities SL has committed more recently and also over the years in the region, nevertheless the political leaders have been quite silent on what’s next, except for distracting the people with calls to support and wave the flag for the army and worrying signs they want to take revenge and prepare for a new attack. Which many even doubt if the army is even capable of, nevertheless would serve no purpose other then to attempt to mask the failed leadership and distract the people even further.
I think on the short term there shouldn’t be any doubt on what SL ought to be doing to descalate, save people from more bloodshed, get back on the track of peace and above all save SL government and social contract from imploding.
A. Admit publicly its mistakes, offer apologies to the people of Sool and call for peace.
B. Call all people to refrain from escalations, incitement and animosity while reaffirming the brotherly relationships between and communities.
C. Send message of peace to Garaads and offer to come to Las Anod with an peace delegation of traditional leaders (Ergo) waving the white flag to Las Anod, to offer a hand of peace, negotiate over the damages committed, account for the casualties, terms for release of prisoners and guarantee peace and protection to all rural/urban civilians across all regions. I don’t think the Garaads will refuse to receive the peace delegation, but in case they do send an Ergo to Boqor Burhan with request to mediate.
This is what I think specially SL traditional leaders ought to be doing as soon as possible, with or without Muse’s consent. Learning lessons of true leadership from allah ha u naxariisto Garaad’s Abdiqani’s example, when he in the 1990’s saved whole regions, communities from bloodshed and forged the reconciliation.
Would this make sense?