Somaliland's gamble will cost peaceful coexistence in northern Somalia

[Jacpher]

Somaliland's gamble will cost peaceful coexistence in northern Somalia

 

EDITORIAL | The basis for the clan argument is evident in Las Anod today.

 

In much of the world, there is the generally held view that Somalia is a chaotic country that continues to defy international attempts to restore national order. Closer examination of this Horn of Africa country reveals a different picture that takes into account "local reality." In northern Somalia, for example, peaceful coexistence has reigned for years between the region's major clans. Western newspapers and TV images often depict the war reality in the south, especially in the city of Mogadishu which is central to Somalia's perpetual power struggle.

 

The war dynamic in the south, between the Ethiopian-backed interim government and Islamist rebels, is distinctive from the burgeoning war reality in the north. "Somaliland," a self-declared independent republic in northwest Somalia, seeks to secede from the rest of the country and has based its case for independence on boundaries left behind by departing British colonialists. Its neighbor to the east, the self-governing region of Puntland, wants to remain part of Somalia under a federal formula which gives regions some political leverage. The two regions have been praised for returning law and order to the north. Hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and destitution in southern Somalia have fled to the relative peace and quiet of Somaliland and Puntland regions.

 

But these regions renowned for their peaceful coexistence are on the verge of erupting in open warfare after Somaliland troops assumed control of Las Anod, a provincial capital that has become the centerpiece of the Somaliland-Puntland conflict. Both regional governments claim Las Anod, and the greater Sool and Sanaag regions, for different reasons. Somaliland leaders say Sool and Sanaag regions formed the eastern border of the ex-British Protectorate of Somaliland. But their rivals in Puntland say colonial borders are meaningless in this day and age, and that clan boundaries were there before and after British colonial legacy.

 

The basis for the clan argument is evident in Las Anod today. Although Somaliland troops were successful in routing out Puntland soldiers from Las Anod, they have been unable to enter the town in big numbers because they are unpopular locally. The clan dimension to this reality is irrefutable: the bulk of the Somaliland army is composed of members from the ***** clan, the dominant clan in northwest Somalia. Sool and Sanaag regions are predominantly home to *********** and Warsangeli clans, who, along with the ********* of Puntland, form a major branch of the ***** clan-family. Somaliland's military success in Las Anod is in large part due to serious divisions within the *********** clan; Ahmed Abdi Habsade, a former Puntland government minister and a *********** clansman, backed Somaliland's takeover of Las Anod. Habsade is not a unique character in Somali politics, for many politicians switch sides as they continue to look out for their own narrow interests, often at the expense of their "constituents."

 

Today, Mogadishu and Las Anod are the only two cities in Somalia where residents are fleeing in mass numbers. The fear is that armed reprisal from Puntland will not bring a definitive conclusion to the long-standing conflict in the region. Loyalties have been broken and blood spilt. Somaliland troops are facing Garowe, the heart of Puntland. In 17 years of civil war, no non-***** clan has ever waged war on Garowe.

 

Certainly Somaliland leaders took the gamble of their political career when they backed Habsade's move to oust Puntland from Las Anod. The timing of the move, from the Somaliland perspective, is quite understandable. Officials in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, see a serious threat emerging from Mogadishu, where former Puntland leader Abdullahi Yusuf is attempting to restore central rule with Ethiopian military backing. If Yusuf's transitional government is successful in pacifying Mogadishu, and that is a big if, then naturally Somaliland would become the next sphere of operation to spread Mogadishu's influence.

 

And that's exactly what leaders in Hargeisa do not want. They don't want marching orders from Mogadishu, for they have functioned since 1991 as a de facto independent state. What is important to note is that Somaliland's peaceful existence for so long depended on their detached from the civil war. But by conquering Las Anod, Somaliland has effectively drawn itself back into the civil war.

 

 

Source

[RedSea]

This article is so bad it leaves a bad taste on anyone who reads it.

 

it's piece of junk sorry sir.

[Jacpher]

^Very predictable.

 

It's just an editorial examining the old hostility and animosity Hargeysa gangs brought to this very volatile region. They shall reap its fruits. Nothing to get worked up sxb.

[RedSea]

No it's not editorial...it's piece of garbage from Gorowe online.

 

The articles talks about more about qabiil than it does about Las Anod and the current status.

[bilan]

red sea both SL and PL are based on qabiil, the reason SL wants to be independent is based on qabiil.

[bilan]

red sea both SL and PL are based on qabiil, the reason SL wants to be independent is based on qabiil.

[Faarax-Brawn]

Originally posted by bilan:

red sea both SL and PL are based on qabiil, the reason SL wants to be independent is based on qabiil.

The entire Somali Politics is based on Qabil. Lets face it,this has nothing to do with Qabil.

[Juje]

Originally posted by Faarax-Brawn:

The entire Somali Politics is based on Qabil. Lets face it,this has nothing to do with Qabil.

Make up your mind sxb.

[Faarax-Brawn]

Originally posted by Juje:

quote:Originally posted by Faarax-Brawn:

The entire Somali Politics is based on Qabil. Lets face it,this has nothing to do with Qabil.

Make up your mind sxb.

Perhaps i will clarify. Somali politics is based on Qabil. This particular conflict between Somaliland & Puntland(Sool/Sanag) is not about qabil. I personally think there is more to this than qabil hebel iyo qabil hebel. Could be Ethiopia(distabilizing entire Somalia),could be Oil & Minerals or just Somaliland reclaiming what is theirs(according to colonial borders).

 

Hope that clarified abti

[RedSea]

Farax Brawn,

 

aren't you as suprise as I am that some of our fellow brothers in this joint are making more noise when Puntland lost Sool, due to not to Somaliland but locals taken up arms to chase them away from Las Anod. To this day, no single SL soldier is in LA. Most of the job was done by reer Sool themsleves including the major clan in Las Anod.

 

When Puntland was in control, these people were kept silent, but today when they risen up, it's Somaliland who have done the damage.

[Malika]

Originally posted by Faarax-Brawn:

Perhaps i will clarify. Somali politics is based on Qabil. This particular conflict between Somaliland & Puntland(Sool/Sanag) is not about qabil. I personally think there is more to this than qabil hebel iyo qabil hebel. Could be Ethiopia(distabilizing entire Somalia),could be Oil & Minerals or just Somaliland reclaiming what is theirs(according to colonial borders).

 

Hope that clarified abti

FB how isnt this conflict or any other Somali conflict not about qabiil,are we really capable of any other conflict?..

 

Ethiopia,its regime is having a field day from our conflicts ,their status in world arena has risen and their ripping its benefits.Zenawi has found his scape goats,the gullible Somalis.

 

 

Mineral and Oil is a new phenomenal conflict which a few are benefiting from it,the massess are just dragged into wars which will not and will never benefit them.

[RedSea]

Dahia,

 

what qabiil is involved?

 

Cuz things are bit more interesting that the usual clear cut.

 

You have reer Awdal, Reer Hargeysa and Burco, and also some reer sool on one side vs. parts of reer Sool and reer Puntland.

 

So which particular qabiil are we talking about?

[Faarax-Brawn]

Originally posted by Dahia al Kahina:

quote:Originally posted by Faarax-Brawn:

Perhaps i will clarify. Somali politics is based on Qabil. This particular conflict between Somaliland & Puntland(Sool/Sanag) is not about qabil. I personally think there is more to this than qabil hebel iyo qabil hebel. Could be Ethiopia(distabilizing entire Somalia),could be Oil & Minerals or just Somaliland reclaiming what is theirs(according to colonial borders).

 

Hope that clarified abti

FB how isnt this conflict or any other Somali conflict not about qabiil,are we really capable of any other conflict?..

 

Ethiopia,its regime is having a field day from our conflicts ,their status in world arena has risen and their ripping its benefits.Zenawi has found his scape goats,the gullible Somalis.

 

 

Mineral and Oil is a new phenomenal conflict which a few are benefiting from it,the massess are just dragged into wars which will not and will never benefit them.

They use qabilism to achieve the end result. However,this in my opinion has nothing to do with Qabil. There is obviously a larger picture here. Ethiopia & Meles have a plan, a grand plan. And yall just need to realize that fact.

 

Mujahid,its ironic,Innit

[RedSea]

^^^Sure it's...

 

also more noise being made than when Xamar was taken over.

 

..and Duke has disapeared.

[SOO MAAL]

Red sea,

 

There are people of Sool, Sanaag, & Cayn, How about if we say there are no such think as somalilanders, northwestern Somalis? Lets respect each other

 

The recent invasion of Laascaanood was a clear aggression of Riyaale’s clan militia against the people of Sool, its better not to justify the actions of Riyaale

this isn't certain tribe from Hargeysa vs. reer sool as you would like us to believe

We hope that’s not the case, but clearly its Riyaale clan militia and his supporters from the secessionist camp vs people of Sool

but this is reer awdal, Hargeysa, burco borama, and reer Sool themsleves vs. reer sool+ Puntland.

That’s not the truth, but a fabricated propaganda, only some secessionists believe it

 

The majority of people of Sool are united to liberate their land, of course Haabsade and his militia (funded by riyaale) are irrelevant