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by Mohamed Jibrell
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) were defeated and chased from their last stronghold in Mogadishu in December 2006. Except for few remnants engaged in hit and run, Alqaeda style skirmishes, the UIC fighting capacity has been very much degraded. But it seems that through the unholy convergence of interests between the Mogadishu insurgents and the Somaliland secessionist administration in Hargeisa, their luck seems to be turning for the better. Through the urgings of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), hell bent on the destabilization of Puntland, Somaliland invaded and occupied Puntland's most historic city, Laascaanod. They have also embarked on unsuccessful attempts at the occupation of the major cities of Sanaag.
Likewise, With Hargeisa’s help the Islamic insurgents have regrouped their forces and are lately claiming successes. Some of their latest claims
include, that Al-Shabab, the fighting wing of the Islamic Courts Union, has occupied and pillaged a string of cities (at least eight thus far), blasted and killed Ethiopian troopers, and murdered TFG authority figures ranging from lowly government clerks to governors. However in occupying land and selling themselves as likely “spoiler of the little peace that has been achieved if not recognized,” Somaliland benefited the most from this deceptive alliance.
The Somali media witnessed the development of this unholy alliance and documented the subsequent mayhem and destruction that it left in its wake. Here are some of the evidences of this quid pro quo between these two mismatched partners, as reported by Somali media:
a.. Hassan Dahir Aweys gives fatwa that the Puntland 'infidels' be attacked.
b..Sheikh Indhacadde boasted on BBC Somali Service that Lasacanod invasion was a successful reprisal against TFG
c.. UIC business men who escaped Mogadishu found sanctuary in Hargeisa.
d.. Somaliland administration propaganda and saber- rattling against TFG is a common diet
Despite Somaliland's initial reaction of mistrust of the Islamists agenda, it has at the same time taken delight in UIC efforts to derail the formation of an effective Somali government. Now that Somaliland has realized the TFG government is moving forward with the support of the international community and are successfully overcoming the resistance of the Islamists in Mogadishu, Somaliland in consultation with UIC insurgents, began to invade neighboring Sool of Puntland. Their hope is to derail TFG efforts by colliding with the peaceful clans of Sanaag and Sool regions who are supporters of TFG and are signatories to the formation of the Puntland State. Somaliland embarked on this audacity to create another TFG war front that may give respite to the terrorists in Mogadishu. - A desperate attempt to disrupt TFG and international community from their
commitment to rid of Islamic terrorism from Mogadishu and southern enclaves.
Mohamed Ibrahim Igal the wise late prime minister of Somalia and later the president of the break away state, has always avoided war and aggression with the Sool and sanaag people. He knew that recognition of Somaliland would trigger a civil war and that the Sanaag and Sool people would never accept to be associated with a separatist state. Therefore, the late Prime Minster did not rush to selling the recognition of Somaliland for these obvious reasons. However, current leadership with their ties to Mogadishu radical Islamic terrorism has lost their way and became obsessed with a delusion of clan hegemony.
Finally, greed is another reason why Somaliland attacked Sool and Sanaag. Somaliland was in part emboldened inadvertently by the goodwill of the International Community. International NGOs, for example, dole 60% of the humanitarian and development aid intended for Somalia to Northwestern Somalia (Somaliland), theoretically for their good behavior and as those less charitable to them would say for the kickbacks to the international "grant managers." And thus Lascanood is a victim of this "humanitarian" subterfuge. The politician's in Hargeisa have for the last 17 years garnered for themselves, Sool and Sanag's share of this "humanitarian windfall."
It is ironic that NGOs who are familiar with Hargeisa's corruption hail Somaliland as a symbol of peace loving country, not realizing that peace in the Somali context emanates from the coexistence of different clans and tolerance of diversity and not from the barrel of a gun. As a result, reconstruction and development projects in many areas of Sanaag and Sool have not gotten underway. The people of Sanaag and Sool neither will
tolerate the presence of secessionists in any part of their regions. We urge the international community to abandon silence on Somaliland transgression. The United Nations has an obligation to address this problem. To justify inaction is a strategic mistake that does not account for the best interest of the Somali people that are reeling from 17 years of anarchy and civil war.
Mohamed Jibrell
[email protected]