Galgala, Bari: Dhahar elders release a communique for Peace

[NASSIR]

While the news of gathering dark clouds of war is with us, Dhahar elders said their names were used on deliberate false allegations by Garoweonline and AllPuntland, and they too warned against any unilateral action/strike by Puntland amid ongoing talks between Sheikh Atam himself and the elders on how to normalize the standoff or close the gap purported to be a fundamental misunderstandings.

 

It seems the elders do not see Mr. Atam in the same way as by Puntland officials. Theirs perchance reflect a sentiment of support for a man whom they believe has done nothing wrong except for unconfirmed and politically motivated allegations.

 

I think the growing support for Sheikh Atam is not without an explanation. Ever since PL's creation, the clan in western Bari region do not acquiescence to the whole system of Puntland and has accordingly exericised a total economic and political independence.

 

The aggressive posture of reer Galgala and by extension of western Bari was created in part by alienation and gradual encroachment on their territory. Carmo is a case in point. A traditional grazing area for the clan was turned into an experiment of a land distribution or gerrymandering process of default. Carmo was soon transformed into a District that could host the base for Somalia's police academy whereas Galgala with relatively high population was almost treated as it were part of Sanaag region. The latter city is actually closer to Bosaso than Carmo.

 

Similar grievances arise from the inhabitants of near farming settlements such as Marajo and Hamur. Then came the illicit mining and oil agreement signed by PL and the Range Resources, Ltd. on the Majihan and Dhalan area without the consent of the inhabitants. The result had been a disastrous for some politicians and an opportunity for others like the current president, Farole and his Interior Minister.

 

It was this conflict that Sheikh Atam rose to popularity for his resolve to build disciplined local forces and stop the exploration by Range Resources, which they did after a two weeks of gun battle and dozens of human casualties.

 

On the contrary, ICG's report came only with contradictory account, one that solely relies on Somaliland and Puntland. ICG's report implicated him as the man in violation of Somalia's weapons embargo eventhough the UN Monitoring Group alleges a different person.

 

My solution is to send a neutral party into the region, for example, a UN commission, that should meet with the local traditional authority, women activists, and civil society groups, and investigate all the allegations concerning this issue and come up with their findings.

[NASSIR]

Baaq ka dhan ah dowlad goboleedka Puntland oo ay soo saareen waxgaradka Gobolada Haylaan iyo Galbeedka Bari

[NASSIR]

Jaaliyada Gobolada Sanaag, Haylaan iyo Bari ee ku Dhaqan Wadanka UK oo Soosaaray Baaq ku Wajan Go'aankii Odayaasha Beesha...

[Mr. Somalia]

^

 

Nonsense.

 

There can ONLY be one authority in the land; And that authority will be whoever becomes the victor between Atom or Faroole. Now I suggest that these elders you speak of should either renounce Faroole, their allegiance to Puntland and side with Atom publicly or they should help kick Atom's butt by supporting the government's agenda. They can't have it both ways and I believe they should not be allowed to do so, either.

 

I'd just like to add that Faroole wasted valuable time early on in this whole Atom affair, thereby damaging his legitimacy on this matter. It made me wonder if the delays in containing this guy, not disbanding his small militia, not building the necessary support from the locals of those areas, etc., were deliberate and the inevitable emboldening of the ambitions of Atom would allow Faroole to say "See-- Al Shabab is setting up shop in Bari"--in the hopes of terrifying the population into going along with whatever capricious idea he fancies, like his recent attempt at creating a so-called court for the fight against terrorism, piracy and human smuggling, which was thankfully abnegated by the parliament(Or NOT!).

[Chief_Aaqil]

Nassir, this is nothing new. Only new is that elders from Dhahar didnt give the green light to Puntland. All the rest has been going on now for years.

 

That is why many people on the ground support Somaliland because they are fed up how Puntland treats like second class citizens in their own region.

[Xudeedi]

Mr. Somalia, the words of the elders that you undermine is the only ultimate authority in the land. Puntland was derived from the unification of the larger clan interest; nevertheless every family is responsible for its inherited land. Faroole himself draws his legitimacy from these same men, traditional elders who for long have assumed power.

 

Faroole should learn from the mistakes of the previous administration, the failed Majiyahan project (Western Bari) after it’s course, the previous administration descended into a weak clan militia, and it’s orders contested by other communities in Bari region, the later (Qandala, Waaciye,etc). If Faroole decides to take course, it certainly will strengthen Mr. Atam and will further draw more support from the clan base.

 

My solution is to send a neutral party into the region, for example, a UN commission, that should meet with the local traditional authority, women activists, and civil society groups, and investigate all the allegations concerning this issue and come up with their findings.

Great Point.

 

Garoweonline and it’s cheerleaders, (Allpunland, Allidamaale) are only promoting a war that could potentially destroy Puntland’s economic lifeline (Bosaso). I believe the responsibility of defecting potential incidents shall be held by the local clans, and the administration should open talks, we all succeed if bloodshed is suspended.

[Xudeedi]

Chief Caaqil, we are talking about Bari region here; not Hargaisa . This is a local issue that does not concern secessionist. You are as confused about this issue as you are about your identity.

[Cowke]

Odeyashan galgala waa inay iska saran odeygan shaykh atam dhulkooda. Thats the only solution. Puntland govt held peace-talks with him and his crew in galgala and we thought it all ended. But still these killings are happening of officals.

 

The question is how do you think puntlanders feel marki waxgaradkooda la laaynayo iyo qof hizbul islam aminsan seexanayo buraha galgala? ma socon karto taas. Odeyasha galgala stop pointing the finger maybe the majiyahan thing was wrong but this not majiyahan today waxgarad ayaa bossaso lagu laaynaya and there is strong evidence that atam is behind it.

 

Where-as do these people get their weapons from? dadka dad toganayo xaage bay ka helan hubka? ma dad reer bossaso ah baa oraneyo "hoo qaado hubkan soo dil waxgaradkeygu"? of course not. The idps ayaa lagu kor shaqaysaneya atam ayaa hubka siiyo oo yirahdo soo togo waxgaradkas iyo dad kale dawlada kamid ah. Who knows he might even give them bonus payment if they are successful in the hit.

 

Anyways whatever is happening it's clear peace-talks didn't work out because farole met with the odeyaal of galgala and atam and these killings are still happening. So it's obvious only 1 solution is needed "take out atam" either farole will do it or the odeyaal should.

[Mr. Somalia]

Originally posted by Xudeedi:

[QB] Mr. Somalia, the words of the elders that you undermine is the only ultimate authority in the land. Puntland was derived from the unification of the larger clan interest; nevertheless every family is responsible for its inherited land. Faroole himself draws his legitimacy from these same men, traditional elders who for long have assumed power.

 

Faroole should learn from the mistakes of the previous administration, the failed Majiyahan project (Western Bari) after it’s course, the previous administration descended into a weak clan militia, and it’s orders contested by other communities in Bari region, the later (Qandala, Waaciye,etc). If Faroole decides to take course, it certainly will strengthen Mr. Atam and will further draw more support from the clan base.

Petty platitudes, I say.

 

These elders must be resolute enough to amass their support behind Faroole or Publicly renounce their allegiance to him...They cannot continue to want to remain stakeholders of Puntland and not back the elected head of that state. Now, if the elders, believe Atom is right, they should publicly proclaim this, denounce Faroole and live with the repercussions that such a decision will entail.

 

Now, is that too much to ask of them?

[Fiqikhayre]

Nassir and Xudeedi are not being entirley honest here, the elders of Dhahar only said 'They wanted sufficient time given to resolve the issue peacefully and without any bloodshed' that's their objective.

 

And that's why they warned of any hastened action by the government in taking out the 700 or so strong men who have established a strong-hold in the mountains of Galgala, west of Bosaso.

 

Their wish was that talks be given a chance and no action taken before the conclusion of those talks so Nassir and Xudeedi have to tell it how it is.

 

This issue is not about the people of Makhir Coast or Sanaag against the rest as Nassir and Xudeedi want to paint it far from it it's the authority of the Minister for the Interior, Local Governments and advancement of the rural people, which coincidently from the same place/region as the said Mr. Atam.

 

I don't know what Nassir and Xudeedi are on this one, they certainly cannot speak for all the people of Makhir and Sanaag in general as they do not all ascribe to the notion of Mr. Atam the saviour of the sub-sub-sub-sub-sub clan of theirs.

 

Get to know the politics and be done with the emotions, gentlemen.

[Thankful]

Garoweonline and it’s cheerleaders, (Allpunland, Allidamaale) are only promoting a war that could potentially destroy Puntland’s economic lifeline (Bosaso).

Many think that Bosasso belongs to a certain group or that one group has rights over the city. I can say this with certainty that the city belongs to absolutely nobody, there are Somalis from every corner of the country who have businesses and own homes in the city. Every single group there has significant interests in Bosasso. Some of the biggest business suchs as hotels, are controlled by a wide variety of groups.

 

So any war that takes place with Atam will have little effect on Bosasso, regardless how close it takes place to the city, those causing conflict will be quickly thrown out by the combined efforts of hundreds of thousands of inhabitants.

 

Mr. Atam is a man that chooses to follow his own rules, if Ilko-Jiir that comes from this region sides with the Puntland government. It's exactly as Mr. Somalia says, either the elders needs to choose Atam or the Puntland government. last time they choose to leave Puntland when they didn't get their way, now they must choose if they want to support the government.

[General Duke]

Galgala is non issue, this man Atam is no more than another ***** ruining it for his community. The state needs to take action in order to relieve the pressure of Bossaso. The argument that this war will be against a sub clan is ludicrous and should not in anyway hinder the progress of the state. There is only one authority in Puntland and that’s the admin. If faroole fails this, then it’s of with his political head, which is already looking riper by the minute.

 

The elders do need to take a stand and not waffle, and the state should take steps to ensure that this militia is disarmed.

[Xudeedi]

3- Waxaanu shacabka reer Puntland u sheegaynaa in odayaasha iyo waxgaradka deegaanku ay doonayaan in ay arintan nabad ku xaliyaan, hadiise inta hawsha lagu jiro uu maamulka Puntland deegaanka weerar kusoo qaado in wixii meesha ka dhaca ay dawlada Puntland masuuliyadeeda keligood qaadi doonaan; (

http://www.hiiraan.com/news/2010/July/wararka_maanta19-10474.htm

)

The words of elders are very plain and clear. The administration that you all bark for is obviously weak and helpless and can only entertain the international community with intentions of anti-terror funds. The locals in Western Bari bear responsibility for their inherited land and repudiate to be hostages for Faroole’s quick dollar scheme.

 

If Faroole attacks the said area, it would impact politically, socially and economically the entire region. I hope talks will re-emerge and the prosperity of the region won’t be interrupted.

 

To my cousins who are cheering for war, remember it’s way too early to show emotions.

[Fiqikhayre]

It's quiet astonishing at the simplicity of the brothers who see this as an local sub-clan issue rather than what it is, namely a geopolitical issue of one group trying to establish a strategic geopolitical positioning in the Bab al-Mandab which has an important port and where they can launch into other parts such as Yemen and the wider Arabian peninsula across the red sea in Bosaso.

 

This group has an army of around 700 men, with training camps with Atam being one of the ring-leaders plus one other guy by the name of ina Kilwe and one another guy who is from the Bay region of Somalia.

 

They have a steady and continuous supply of weaponry from Yemen across the sea which they can easily dock into one of the many unguarded spots of the long coast near or around Bosaso's red sea either in Bari or Sanaag and then transport it during night to their strong base or slowly disguised as petrol or something else using rough roads or even conventional methods by just keeping off Bosaso, which is only 20 km's away and major army/police checking points.

 

What are the trusting and easily led brothers like Naasir and Xudeedi waiting for? That Atam, who clearly their strategy is say one thing into the maakhirir ears whilst whispering a total different thing to his Shabaab/Xisbul Islaam superiors in the southern part of the country.

 

The lunacy of it all is they trying to say is: 'Let him get upto 2000 men who are trained in the galgala mountains with all their weapons and then ascend to Bosaso.'

 

With possible few hundred sympathisers inside the city and 2000 well disciplined and paradise destined men Bosaso would fall and falter and everything would descent into total chaos.

 

We cannot and will not allow the backbone and the most secure area of the state which should be out of the reach of any enemy to the state and the economic powerhouse of our state slip of our hands that easily.

 

Border towns can fall but we won't allow this to happen. This is a dangerous and most wickedly plan to make the state crumple from within and this strategy has been clearly designed by the deviant religious groups in the south either the Hisbul Islam or the Shabab.

 

So this elders are either with Shabab or with the state, enough time has already been given to them.

 

The gullible please stay outside of this and take your 'why is my sub-clan being target' out of the debate as clearly you're lacking the geopolitical understanding of how things work and particular how such groups operate.

 

Grow up simple folks.

[Xudeedi]

It seems the elders do not see Mr. Atam in the same way as by Puntland officials. Theirs perchance reflect a sentiment of support for a man whom they believe has done nothing wrong except for unconfirmed and politically motivated allegations.

Atam’s popularity stems from his vocal stance against the “Majiyahan” project and the incompetent administration’s efforts to subdue local clans. He then formed local militia’s “Ciidamada Ilaalada Khayraadka Degaanka” who was funded by the diaspora. Atam’s wing became very successful under his leadership as he is an educated disciplined man with charisma.

 

Puntland’s administration grew worry and later the SSDF media outlets launched a collective effort in Red-Tagging Mr. Atam as a terrorist. Your mere source is no other than “The UN Monitoring Group for Somalia”, the same agency that reported “Faroole’s piracy engagement”.

 

This group has an army of around 700 men, with training camps with Atam being one of the ring-leaders plus one other guy by the name of ina Kilwe and one another guy who is from the Bay region of Somalia.

Kilwe is also from western Bari, and your claim that a man from Bay is leading folks in Galgala is as ridiculous as your other ill-referenced information. I am flattered by your empty threats.

 

Mr. Atam has a base and only the locals can execute a comprehensive piece. Take your bed-time stories elsewhere.