The Foreign and Commonwealth Office website contains the following information about Somalia: “The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was formed in July 2005.  Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was appointed President of the TFG in January 2009.  Regional governments exist in Somaliland and Puntland.” This statement shows that British government’s policy of donating development aid to Somalia is in line with “Strategic Defence and Security Review to spend 30% of UK aid to support fragile and conflict-affected states and to help some of the poorest countries in the world address the root causes of their problems.”

A Map of Somalia in FCO website

Some clarity on the British aid to Somaliland could be a key to conflict resolution strategies in parts of Somalia where renewed clashes between clans supporting union and secession are threatening to undermine relative peace   northern regions and northern-eastern   regions of Somalia (Somaliland and Puntland respectively) have enjoyed.

Does the British government call Somaliland what was once known as Ex-British Somaliland? Or does it call Somaliland parts of Ex-British Somaliland under the Somaliland administration? If the British government calls Somaliland parts of Somalia under the British before the north and southern provinces united in July 1960, it is noteworthy that parts of what Ex-British Somaliland are under the Somaliland and Puntland administrations, and Sool, Sanaag and Cayn (SSC) leadership council. The recent clashes in Kalshaale
near Buuhoodle between SSC forces and Somaliland forces with local clan militias shows that the spectre of clan warfare has reared its head again in the north.

If British aid to Somaliland is based on needs assessment submitted by the Somaliland administration on the basis of regions under its control, clarity on how Somaliland administration will ensure that aid would be used for specific objectives will contribute to conflict resolution initiatives in Somalia.

There are other regional governments in Somalia: Galmudug based in South Galka’yo, a city the administration shares with Puntland whose administrative capital is Garowe. Although Puntland was almost eight years old when Galmudug had been formed, it has never claimed to represent or sought to control parts of Mudug region where clans who did not have a role in the formation of Puntland in 1998 live. This is an example about addressing representation issues among clans, and it is instructive for Britain to whom many Somalis are eternally grateful for  hosting Somali refugees and for the timely development aid to Somalia.

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Liban Ahmad is the editor of Somalia Research Report and a frequent contributor to WardheerNews. He can be contacted at: libahm@gmail.com

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