Africa
Somaliland Army May Launch New Offensive Ahead of Elections
April 27, 2010 · 55 Comments
LAS ANOD (Somalilandpress) — Somaliland may launch a new military offensive into the disputed regions near the Somali-border where clan insurgent leaders have been building up armed militia in the past three months.
In a move to secure it’s borders ahead of the general President elections, Somaliland has placed it’s army in the Sool region on full preparation to carry out operations along the Somaliland-Somali border. Somaliland and Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland have in the past disputed over the Sool and Sanag regions, each laying claim over it.
The army is in particular concern about the activities taking place in the town of Bur-wadal, where clan elders from the Dhulbahante tribe are meeting. Somaliland accuses them of instigating violence and is worried elements of Somalia’s Al Shabab and Ethiopia’s rebel opposition, ONLF could infiltrate into their clan militia and destabilize the whole region.
Ethiopia, who is equally worried about the group and their activities believes the ONLF may establish a safe heaven in the region if destabilized and some of the local clan members may serve along side them since they both belong to the Darod family. With the current stronger ties with Somaliland, Ethiopia is considered in the current dynamics in Sool region. Unconfirmed reports say Ethiopia is backing Somaliland in this front in order not to allow ONLF rebels to establish bases in the region which will have an impact inside Ethiopia.
The elders in Bur-wadal, who are mainly from the Dhulbahante clan disapprove of Somaliland and used to consider themselves part of Puntland before they completely changed their strategy and called for an independent state similar to Puntland. The Dhulbahante, who inhabit parts of Sanag and Sool, belong to the Harti sub-clan of Darod like the Majeerteens of Puntland. In the mean time they are divided in supporting Somaliland and keeping the union with the rest of Somalia. The pro-union camp of Dhulbahante believe all Somalis should be in one state including the Ogadens of Ethiopia. Somaliland on the other hand says the region falls within the 1960 pre-union borders.
In recent months, most of the elders with the help of the Dhulbahante Diaspora have established a base in Bura-wadal and said they will form their own armed movement against Somaliland. It is believed that they are gathering clan militias in and around Bura-wadal and surrounding areas.
Somalilandpress has also learned that Puntland forces cleared off from the road between Tukaraq and Garowe due to the last movements of the Somaliland army. Rumors say that Somaliland has requested Puntland moves its army back from the Somaliland border, Puntland forces has since cleared off from the road between Las Anod and Garowe. Puntland president, Mr. Farole and his Interior Minister, Mr. Abdillahi Ahmed traveled to Ethiopia in early April. Mr. Farole has not returned to Puntland since and is currently in Nairobi.
According to local sources, the elders and the Dhulbahante Diasporas have lost confidence and faith in the Puntland administration and believe in establishing new administration free from Somaliland and Puntland influence. Something neither Somaliland nor Puntland approves of.
Somaliland army is said to be planning to launch the operations in the coming days.
Somaliland is expected to go to the polls on June and is funded by the US, the UK, and some European Union (EU) countries. They too have expressed interest in maintaining Somaliland’s stability and the region.
There is no official statement about the expected assault from the Somaliland government.
Somalilandpress, 27 April 2010
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Tags: Ethiopia, Puntland, Sanaag, Somaliland, Sool
Readers Comments (55)
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they planing attacks on sland army…………..
Oh No! Ethiopia! It also gives a military aid to the other side "Puntland"!
My point is, alongside Ethiopia, Somalis have another enemy, which is within and spreading and clearly visible! When our eyes see them, is when we woke up from this asleep. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against our secession, but against the enemy that we share with the rest of Somali territories.
I believe that both of us (us and the Puntlands) if we once work together to face the common enemy, I don't mind later or when that enemy's existence is no longer exist.
P.S. Don't destroy your forces for a war that never brings real win but build for later enemy which is surely more powerful and well equipped than this, this only brings for both of you be less power to face the real enemy and that's when regretting arises.
Jaamac
Jaamac you cant work with a crook in this instance Bugland is made out of pirates, human traffickers, fake religious leaders, anti-Somalilanders, theives, and above all those who claim Somaliland soil as theirs based on tribal lineage, therefore, we the people of Somaliland will not work with Bugland until they renounce their claims to Sool and Sanaag first and formost. Stop preventing Somaliland trucks from delivering much needed food and medicine to the needy people of South and Central Somalia at once. No more hijacked Somaliland trucks on their side of the border. If these conditions are met we might let you off the hook but if you continue to agitate the Somaliland people will have no other option but to deal with you in the only language you understand.
Most of the comments I read regarding this 'report' are from penny heads! the commentators are egg heads who are ignorant of history and the future they are begging. They are the children of Ina Egare who served the colonizers better than prophet Mohamed. We freed Somaliland from the British and we will safeguard that freedom for posterity.
y.mohamed,
I would like to demand to know,what you mean by ''who served the colonizers better than prophet Mohamed. ''??
About time boys — between waiting for this for a while, time to clean the little backwarded horse riding thugs and their skirt wearing elderly.
We dont need the elderly let them talk as much as they can, just destory their little militia and arrest the ones from abroad.
Good job Ethiopia and Somaliland.
''skirt wearing elderly'' you are going t bit too far Kayse. No disrespect to our ''Macawiis'' Culture.
good job let us do it….
"been waiting for this for a while", – have you kayse. Anyone with Somaliland's interests at heart knows that we should avoid confrontation as much as possible, this does not mean letting go of Sool and Sanaag which are part of Somaliland. Miliray action may be our last resort.
Though the situation is complicated, it has to be admitted that the Somaliland administration neglected Sool and Sanaag and did not integerate them into the rest of Somaliland. They have become too comfortable in Hargeisa and have lost touch with the rest of the country, becuase they looked only at the short-term and ignored the long term. It is just a slef-fulfilling prophecy, ignore them and they leave. even now, Sool is receiveing more attention than Sanaag.
Bravo to Dhullos who Support Somaliland.Booo To the Haters.My Advice to the militias Burawadal dont start something you cant finish
terrorist groups on somalilan soil is unacceptable, we somalilanders fully support fighting terrorist on sea as well as on land.
yes we do..
Hope the Government of Somaliland will not start a war in order to win public support for an up coming election but go to war to defend Somaliland people from any enemies internally or externally.
good point….
Absolutely nonsense – Riyaale and his friends should find another way to avoid the upcoming elections.
Burco-Togdheer
I can understand your point, but bro you should put Somaliland interest above all other things….
government should get approval from the parliament before they took any action towards these militia. the election is near so any action that is not approval by the two houses will be consider as illegal.
It is now or never. Let the army destroy this militia, otherwise they wil establish partnership with ONLF and Alshabaab. These future aliance could seriously threat our stability and peace. Wish victory 4 our army
Your region has tribal conflicts, power games of local "elites" and neighbors. What if British folks (not UK government) remake "British Somalia." Italian folks, remake "Italian Somalia." We build enclaves for white Brits and Italians. It will bring in money, jobs, technology (water desalting etc.) to give stability and more prosperity.
Keep most of the land under local clans who occupy each area now. Let local elders rule each clan-based "county" under local traditions. (The rush to have democracy is foolish.) If one group attacks others, whites will stop them. Use silver coin money (no usury bankers). Trade across Somalia and overseas. Divide revenue from oil or mineral production so each man gets his part directly.
Only European groups LIVING THERE will crush piracy. Ships catch pirates, but often must let them go now. Settlers would catch and hang pirates!
In your counties, your local leaders will use Sharia Law mostly. In our areas we may use British or Italian law – or Christian Bible-law. (My friends are Christians who want Bible Law. It doesn't exist anywhere now. We seek an area to build!)
Are you deluded mate? or are you high, mentally ill, intoxicated maybe?
Go concern yourself with other things,
Weirdo what world are you from? You have no idea about Somalis and I suggest you try to make sense next time before you type garbage.
Raageedi Somaliland army should clean up the mess along the Somaliland-Somali border. Drive the militia deep into Bugtaland territory and punish the Bugland army. I would go as far as establishing a Somaliland army presence in Bugland. Garowe and Boosaaso until the situation establizes and the coats is clear after the election. Go get them boys. One hand in the ballot box the other on the trigger.
hahahahahahaha funniest guy, Elmi for Commander in Chief.
We dont need to invade another region unless its necessary and I have the feelings we will soon or later and this is why they dont feel at ease with us gaining recognition.
Later we will have presence inside Puntland, we always did and we will always influence them. Who put Muse Adde in power? Remember we use to arm him against Abdullahi Yusuf? Even their first leader was getting support from Hargeisa.
We have their leaders the problem is their Diaspora.
Bing in the big guns. Time to clean up the mess on the border with Bugland. Their militia should be chased inside Bugland, even establish a Somaliland military base in Garowe or Boosaaso. Teach them a lesson not to mess with Somalilanders anymore. One hand in the ballot box the other on the trigger. Guulaysta
Jamac is one of those naive kids that are good in some NGO offices such as Salvation army and the likes, he needs to understand running a nation and it's securities is not like running a charity organization.
This is harsh world, you claim your rightful things or you will end up homeless, all this nice and friendly mentality often makes guys like him come last on the race then they ask themselves, why does he live in a castle and i live in a little hutt?
Grow up gents.
Think before you type, and then think again. We might win the battles against the militia, but the real war is the one being fought for the hearts of the people.
Somaliland must be clever enough to wait and observe the situation.
The area might become another Iraq/Afghanistan if these hostilities continue. On the other hand if these thugs are tolerated, they could cause more damage. There is NO solution apart from the mercy of Allah on our people.
A war is the last thing we need in any front
our army should always take the enemy in surprise, and the preventive actions are needed to fight those terrorist groups who are trying to destabilize peace.
To Labaliq
How cleaver do you need Somalilnad to be clever to wait the situation that targeting their soldiers and their commanders, how do you need Somaliland to wait while in Bugland folks like NSUM,Alshabab unequivocally decided to destablize the inhabited citizens of Sool Region, how do you need Somaliland to wait when people like Farole never missed a chance to assist the work of NSUM in short Somaliland maybe will have to exercise the last judgment and its war against those Thugs.
Long Life Somaliland
Please digest the full text of comment.
Thom Semsons,
Given the way these tribal minded personalities who post on this blog think and behave, your argument make sense.
No one has sense of nationhood but sense of tribalism. Well, the world abandoned this primitive way of living and we either be part of the advanced world or we will be re-colonized again.
I agree with you, but a lot of times security matters can’t wait all that time, and the word illegal is too harsh.
Why Somaliland has to attack Sool? I do not see any reason to do so. You guys here complain about abuses by Barre regime and now you want to follow his foot steps and annihilate others! It doesn’t make sense at all. Except:
All of you who post here live in the Diaspora with peace and opportunities. You advocate for and promote clan wars and conflicts amongst Somalis in northern Somalia, exploiting their tribal differences. What you gain from it? For sure it does not benefit the people there, so who it benefits?
Simple, it benefits the clannish elites who rule by divide and conquer, and their agents for NGO aid money. The clannish leaders are out there on the ground and most of these who post here are their agents who deal with international NGOs and companies. They work hard to maintain the status quo and benefit from the blood of the people. Clannish leaders and their cohorts must be defeated if peace to be established among Somalis.
I like your old name better, was it Xaaji, dont worry we coming for your little Puntland too.
We are not abusing anyone just securing our borders from Somalia's extremists groups such as Al Shabab and NSUM, as well as ONLF criminals who fled from justice in Ethiopia.
They want to interupt our democractic processes and we wont let this happen. If they meet peacefully in Burwadal its ok they can even meet in Burao and Hargeisa the problem is their extremist views and we will show them their ideologies are thing of the past.
Yaa that is his real name, he also preaches in the FB with the same name…..
It's like the Americans say, "we have to win the Hearts and Minds of the people". This is achived not by the army but by government institutons such as education, health and infrastructure. Furthermore, the government officials and institutions need to make themselves felt & known and work together with local people – it has to be an administration for the people, by the people, with the people. Economic and Social integration is also needed, news & media outlets should expand into those regions.
So while the military has a role to play, they are not the ones who have let us down and who have gotton us into this situation. furthermore what is being taken for granted is that the Somaliland army has the capacity to handle the insurgents. The puntland regime has benefited fom Piracy and kidnap money and im pretty sure that has made its way into government – and what other way to use that than…
And who are you, his drug buddy?
If you wanted to make a stement you need not agree with his white-supremacist ideology. Think, before you write.
We have already won, just look at what Somaliland has achieved.
It's like the Americans say, "we have to win the Hearts and Minds of the people". This is achived not by the army but by government institutons such as education, health and infrastructure. Furthermore, the government officials and institutions need to make themselves felt & known and work together with local people – it has to be an administration for the people, by the people, with the people. Economic and Social integration is also needed, news & media outlets should expand into those regions.
So while the military has a role to play, they are not the ones who have let us down and who have gotton us into this situation. furthermore what is being taken for granted is that the Somaliland army has the capacity to handle the insurgents. The puntland regime has benefited fom Piracy and kidnap money and im pretty sure that has made its way into government – and what other way to use that than…
Hassan,
You seem annoyed by the white guy's comment yet seem to support clannism! How you reconcile these two?
The guy said if you Somalis can't get along, it might be a good idea to let us the British and Italians come back and re-colonize you. Clans formed their own Somaliland, Puntland, Banadirland, Bayland and plotting against each other by prostituting for foreign countries like Ethiopia. Don’t you think his argument is legitimate if we continue this path? Don’t you think you are hypocrite by rejecting his proposition while advocating for clan wars and secessionism?
TRUTH man, the truth
Runsheeg you're a confused, but funny guy,
Firstly, you need not summerise what "the white guy" said (he probably is not even white, why would a white supremassist be on 'Somalilandpress' – that's just funny), i understood perfectly.
Secondly Where did i advocate "clan wars and secessionism", dont make things up just becuase you have nothing to contribute.
Who is the hypocite here, just look below.
A) You agree with the white guy that Somalis should let themselves be rules by (white) europeans.
B) But then you're angry because you think that Somaliland, Puntland, Banadirland, Bayland are being used, controlled and played against each other by Ethiopia.
So at A you're all for an external party controlling Somalis, and at B you all against an external party controlling Somalis – Youre seriously confused.
Think what you will, but "runsheeg" don't talk Untruth about me – or you'd be twice a hypocrite.
Runsheeg,
Anyhow, appart from criticising the diapora (to some extent, correctly so) have you got anything alse to contribute.
What do you actually stand for, a united Somalia? – state your case then we can start talking.
For those of you who don't understand, Somalilanders value what they've got becuase;
"A man who has known true freedom (not paid for by giving up safety and security but rather built on the basis of adequate safety and security) will not willingly or easily allow his freedom to be taken awayfrom him" – A. H. Malsow
Somalilanders have tasted true freedom and peace.
2. We warn that administration ["Somaliland"] against aggression, the presence [of its troops] and the capture of our territory.
3. We only recognize clan borders that have always existed and the regional jurisdictions of the last Somali Government [1969-1991].
4. We warn about war and more bloodshed among neighbors that will lead to long-lasting conflict.
5. There were links among these people ["Somaliland" and Dhulbahante clan] in terms of culture, shared territory and blood, which should have been respected but such ties were broken by the invasion of the Hargeisa [capital of "Somaliland"] administration.
you will be defeated Keyse.
Hassan,
First of all, i am not the one who is confused. My stance is clear. The way I see the guy’s comment is a logic argument; Somaliland leaders are arguing that since they have been colonized by the British, they qualify to become independent state. How can you base your statehood being colonized by the British and yet reject them?
My position has been clear to every one and it is for Somali unity. Tribalism is our problem and we can solve it through dialogue. If Somaliland clan starts secessionism, many others will follow. We have seen Puntland, Galmudug, Ximan iyo Xeeb, Bayland, Jubbaland and others. We can not allow clans to destroy our nation. No way.
Somaliland people were shunned, ignored, controlled, killed, poisened, bombed ad betrayed. The majority of the Somaliland citizens have been affected by the former Somalia policies. You say that "We can not allow clans to destroy our nation" – people like you, were the ones who destroyed it 20 years ago.
Somaliland wants independence not because they were, once upon a time a colony. They want independece because of how they were and still are treated. They are just using the former British Somaliland borders to demarcate their teritory – quite simple. Somalilanders rejected the British when they won their independence in 1960.
You take this lunatic serious? He is saying he is anti-clanism, it was yesterday when in every post he was trying hard to sell to us that he is "isa-xaaq" come on sxb. When he is on Puntland site (wont say the name he knows where) he is full on qabiliste). It is when I found out that he finally accepted he is Puntland duck hiding behind "union" as usual. But remember yesterday when his uncle (Ina Yeey) with the held of General Gabre (Ethiopian) they were all clapping for the destruction and suffering of the people of Mogadishu. Now the gun is on them all of sudden they became "Somalinimo". Dont buy their cheap talk.
What are they doing about Somalia? If they believe in Somali union they would call themselves Puntland, have own flag and little national anthem of their own. You either Somali weyn or your not.
Just confused pirates.
I look forward to seeing the "Sado Ali MPLS declaration" too. Thanks for the essay in the mean time.
I have looked at the situation in Puntland and Mogadishu, and i really don't believe they have changed.
I fundamentally disagree with the white supremasist on principle. And that principle is that somehow, White, Europeans are more able to govern us and make decision better than we can; the argument against this is Somaliland. Somaliland has achieved peace, stability, development etc. So If you feel that in Somalia you are unable to govern yourselves properly, which seems to be the case, then yes maybe, YOU need these white europeans.
You know, the whole point of independece is to not be ruled by others, its called sovereignty.
Hassan,
You wrote " people like you, were the ones who destroyed it 20 years ago"
Brother, i am a victim of that government and was too little to harm any one poltically at the time.
STOP DELETING MY COMMENTS___YOU DELETE ANYONE'S COMMENTS THAT DOES NOT SUPPORT YOUR VIEWS.
YOU SHOULD ALLOW BOTH SIDES TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS EVEN, IF IT DOES NOT SUPPORT YOUR VIEWS.
Hassan,
Somaliland people have been mistreated, that is undeniable truth. It is also undeniable truth that every Somali tribe has been mistreated. We all are victims of tribalism and we are seeking solution. The question is how can we find this solution and what it is? Many argue clan disintegration like Somaliland, Puntland, Galmudug etc. And others argue addressing the effect of clannism in our national system and move on. Both have consequences. The former approach ends our central system and takes as back to the pre-colonial tribal enclaves and chieftains. The latter approach attempts to find a solution for the clan problem and maintain people’s national unity. I go for the latter simply because it is relevant and progressive. And as a Somali people in modern world, it is the only option.
If we choose to disintegrate, first it will start with say Somaliland, Puntland, Galmudug or Banaadirland, etc, then clans within each entity will demand sovereignty and it goes on and on until it reaches the lowest of the clan structure. How this solves the problem we are facing and how it benefits our people now and the future? I don’t see. We need thinking brother.
iam so happy when i gadda see somaliland army
"We only recognize clan borders that have always existed and the regional jurisdictions of the last Somali Government [1969-1991]". Do you think that the border of Somaliland was drawn in 1969? Aqligu xagga dame ayuu idinkaga yaalaa!!