It is was great disappointment to read comments made by E.J. Hogendoorn ICG’s Horn of Africa Project Director in Nairobi in respect of the recent targeted killings of Riyale regime officers in Sool region. In his words Hogendoorn asserted that “the cause of the instability in Las-Anod is due lack of government presence in the town”.
This assumption does not only defy the reality and logic but also demonstrates that ICG’s analyst lacks basic knowledge of Somali crises and intentionally prepares recipe for further bloodshed and inter-clan fighting in northern Somalia, in which the sole beneficiaries will be radical groups and Al Qaeda.
Unlike many Somali cities, Las-Anod was stable and secured city with approximately 150,000 people living peaceful and homogeneously when troops from the breakaway Somali republic of “Somaliland” seized it on Monday October 15, 2007 killing at least 15 people.
The invasion created havoc and displacement of the majority of the civilians in the town who are now living refugee camps in Kenya and other neighboring Somali regions. Among those fled the towns include all traditional leaders of Dhulbahante clan who now live in Garowe as exile.
E.J Hogendoorn was quoted saying that “the violence was inspired by Islamist elements among the Dhulbahante that are sympathetic to Al-Shabab” but failed to admit the fact that such inspiration could not be translated into action without the illegal and unpopular occupation of Somaliland militia.
The reality on the ground is that majority of the Dhulbahante people detest secessionist agenda of Somaliland and believe that their regions (Sool and Sanaag) were captured by rival Isaq clan, bearing in mind that Puntland is currently too weak to regain the region, no doubt some SSC people may consider turning to the other powers in Somalia including terrorist groups like Shabab to seek support in order to free their land.
Despite the recent incidents in the town it is believed that peace and stability is still possible in the region but not through rigid and repressive military power as suggested by E.J Hogendoorn of ICG but by simple withdrawing Somaliland militia from the town and leaving the security issue on the shoulders of the Dhulbahante people and their traditional leaders.
Waraysi
Maqal ah