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President Daud's Complicity in the Dannod Conflict
By Abdirahman Ibrahim Takhal
May 17 , 2009
In what is referred by some as a silent civil war in the heart of Eastern Ethiopia, at the end of last week, a familiar but traggic news came from the Danood region of the Somali State of Ethiopia. Once again, the “Ogaden National Liberation Front" (ONLF) collaborated with the Abrahim sub clan of the Ogaden tribe to wage an attack against Reer-Sheekh Abbayonis sub clan of the Geri tribe. As many as twenty people were killed from both sides, and more than ten were wounded. By some accounts the wounded figures were even higher. The tension between the two brotherly neighbors is at its highest. No efforts to stop the conflict are currently underway by neither the government nor by the traditional elders of the region.

No word has come from the regional government of the Somali State of Ethiopia yet regarding the tragedy in Dannood. In particular, the silence of the head of the Somali Regional State, who himself is from the Ogaden tribe, the same Tribe of the ONLF, is clearly read by some as a green light for ONLF to wage deadly attacks against the Reer Sheekh Abbayonis in the Dannood area. In some quarter, it is strongly held that since president Daud came to power, the ONLF seems to be enjoying ostensible greater freedom of movement which enhances their ability to hunt and kill civilians, and, in particular, kill more and more members of reer Sheekh Abbayonis who are known for their pacifist attitude.

Last week’s attack was hardly the first one; back in November, 2007 ONLF raided the village of Gole, which is not far from Widhan Widhaale, the location where they killed 11 innocent people on this recent attack, and indiscriminately murdered 7 last year including women and children. The administration at the time, led by ineffective president Abdulahi Hassan Lugbuur, took no steps to strengthen the security of the area and its inhabitants. Due to the long history of the regional leaders’ inaction, including Mr. Daud who seems to be a good student of the last administration as far as the do-nothing approach is a grave concern to those of us who closely follow events from afar; it’s safe for one to come to the conclusion that nothing happens in the region, specifically Dannood area, which is where president Daud himself hails from, without the knowledge of the president himself.

Since the conflict broke out between the two neighbors of Abbayonis, on one side, and Abrahim supported by ONLF, on the other side, the government led by Mr. Daud is yet to comment about this unfortunate event or let alone acknowledge the existence of the conflict.  To make matters worse, he did send condolences to the victims of the naked aggression by ONLF, which as an organized inching more now towards terrorizing civilians. Thus, the inaction of the regional leaders fuels the speculation by some that the regional state headed by Mr. Daud and his henchmen are clearly involved at some level or another of this basically tribalistic conflict.

No community in the region is spared from ONLF terroristic attacks. Most prominent victim whose life was tragically taken by this ruthless entity was a famous tribal leader who they mercilessly killed in Caado village of Wardheer region. The Suldan was killed in June, 2006. On another horrendous act, as recent as May 11, 2009 ONLF attacked Bulaale in Dhagaxbuur region. That aggression caused the loss of six lives and wounded unknown number, but believed to be higher than the death figure.
                                                                                       
Some even go further; the goal of the alliance between ONLF, Abrahim and high level officials in Daud administration is to force through ethnic cleansing the Reer Sheekh Abbayonis and move them out of the area. And such an action is nothing short of unabated ethnic cleansing, ala UN definition, of the peace loving reer Sheekh Abbayoonis of the  Geri tribe. The official of United Nations definition of ethnic cleansing is “rendering an area ethnically homogeneous by using force or intimidation to remove from a given area persons of another ethnic or religious group. Ethnic cleansing is a crime under international law.

This commentator wish the Daud administration to contradict the account of this article and those of others who share my conclusion, by taking the following steps:

  1. The regional government should launch a full and impartial investigation into the atrocities against reer Sheekh Abbayonis.
  2. To deploy the Dannod area stabilizing force to pave the way an environment where
    Peaceful dialogue  between the two brothers of Abbayonis and Abrahim take place.
  3. To limit, or end the movement of ONLF in the area, and to held responsible those
    Who aliened themselves with the ONLF.

Once the above steps is taken by the government, can we, only then, begin to think that Daud administration is engaged and willing to bring solutions between the warring factions in Dannood area. Mr. Daud should lead the way to promote peace and prosperity while rejecting violence and chaos mastered by ONLF, because peace, co-existence and respect to one another is the only way to a better future.

Abdirahman I. Takhal
Email: atakhal@aol.com

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