Tribal Homelands – Lesson from the SSC Wars A Reply to Mr. Abdishakur Jowhar

The secession has been the brainchild of the Issaaq (to whom I also belong) and was supported by the majority of the Gadabursi and the Issa. All these three groups are sub-sets of the Dir clan. To the contrary, the overwhelming majorities of the other two eastern non-Dir groups who belong to the Harti of the Darod clan are strongly opposed to the secession or for that matter any separate independence of the north.
Jama Mohamed Ghalib [i]

On October 14th, 2004, Somaliland militias were mobilized from their bases in Hargeisa, and Buroa and deployed into the town of Adhicadeeye, west of the city of Las Anod, capturing the city of Las Anod, the capital city of Sool region in October 15th, 2007. Since that time Somaliland militias were controlling Las Anod, Sool region through force and against the will of the people of SSC.

The SSC traditional chiefs (Issims) convened an emergency meeting in Boocame city, Sool region at the end of October, 2007. After they concluded their meeting, the traditional chiefs spoke to the media and stated loudly and clearly that they want the world to know they want Somaliland militias to leave SSC regions, and ever since the SSC leaders and traditional chiefs have been demanding that Somaliland militias leave peacefully from their regions. Unfortunately, Somaliland leaders have ignored repeatedly their demands. Read Mohamoud A Gaildon’s opinion piece entitled “Las Anod speaks” which he published on Saturday, November 24th, 2007 [ii]
Read a press release distributed to the media on 7th, of February, 2011 by Mohamoud Jama, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, SSC Regional Administration, Somalia.

“On February 7th, 2011, more atrocities were committed by Somaliland Militias in SSC regions - On Monday, 7th February 2011 at six o’clock in the morning the militia headed by Mr. Silayo has without any excuse attacked civilians and pastoral nomads in and around Maygaagle and Kalshaale. Mr. Silanyo’s militia initiated the early morning aggression by shelling with heavy artillery. This inhuman invasion was the second in one week. The Isaaq militia has used excessive force on unarmed communities by using all types of military hardware. The Isaaq tribe inherited 60 percent of the last government’s military arms. The military equipment in their possession was the property of Somali National army – once the strongest in Africa. Today’s violent behavior needs no witness but Mr. Silanyo himself. He broadcasted obnoxious speech (BBC Somali Service of 7th February, 2011 at 18:00 hours) in which he called all Isaaq clan to unanimously take arms against the people of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn. Mr. Silanyo, having thousands of militia and the above mentioned military gear made this call. This shows the animosity and ill feeling in his heart. The only crime committed by these civilians for which Mr. Silanyo vowed to massacre them in the SSC regions is fact they belong to non-Isaaq clan and that they do not anyway subscribe to what the Isaaq call Somaliland.” [iii]

Allow me to respond to Mr. Abdishakur Jowhar’s article published on Wardheernews portal”[IV]]
Somalis all believe in clan politics and clan affiliation whether educated or not. They instinctively understand the complex inter-clan relationships that influence every facet of their lives. Indeed, their strong belief in tribalism is the basis of their identity.
Mr. Jowhar’s main arguments can be summarised as follows:

Before I attempt to answer Mr. Jowhar’s assumptions, let me examine a brief history of the SSC Regional Administration.

The SSC Regional Administration is also known as Darwiishia. Darwiishia became independent on 5 March 1905 as confirmed by the “Ilig Accord” famously known as the Pestalozza Treaty by the International community. Taleh was recognized as the seat of the Dervish government by the signatures of the agreement entered into by Italy and the British Empire, who were the sole superpowers and exercised colonial hegemony. As an independent state, Darwiishia had developed diplomatic relations with friendly countries at that time.[v]

Today‘s SSC Regional Administration is facing an enemy that is claiming ownership of their land, an enemy occupying part of their land. As the Vice President of SSC Regional Administration, Colonel Ali Hassan Sabarey, said in an interview he gave to the National Post, "Three years ago, they have forcefully occupied this territory, SSC territory and have violated the rights of the citizens," Col. Sabarey said. "Since then they killed many people, they forced so many people out of the country and within the country as refugees."

Saleebaan Ciise Ahmed Kaar (Xaglatoosiye), The President of the SSC Regional Administration, and Vice-President Colonel Ali Hassan Sabarey were elected on October 15, 2009 by the SSC Regional Administration Parliament known as (Khusuusi) and approved by the House of elders consisting of the Issims (Garaads, Boqors, Suldaans, Ugaases). Issims are traditional chiefs numbering 16 chiefs i.e., Garaads (12 Chiefs), Boqor (1 chief) Suldaan (1 Chief) and Ugaases (2 Chiefs). Each sub clan of the Dhulbahante clan families has its own chief.

Mr. Jowhar’s first assertion: Somaliland is the government and SSC is a tribal homeland
Former speaker Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr – was an outspoken liberal Democrat and influential member of the U.S. Congress, serving in the House of Representatives for 34 years and representing two congressional districts of Massachusetts. O’Neill’s famous quote comes to mind that is “All politics is local”. This famous quote is relevant to the current situation of SSC Regional Administration. The SSC administration is representing their people and working from a bottom up approach to empower the people of the SSC.

Furthermore, the SSC Regional Administration objective meets that of the United Nations bottom up approach mechanisms that has been implemented throughout Somalia proper. The United Nations agencies are operating in a similar fashion in Hargeisa and Garowe based on the United Nations – bottom up approach initiative. The United Nations initiative should be expanded into the SSC Regional Administration as well. All UN Agencies should immediately start their operations in the SSC Regional Administration, as they currently do in Somaliland, the secessionist administration and Puntland, which supports the TFG administration in Mogadishu. All receive assistance from the United Nations, even though they are based on tribal homelands. Puntland and Somaliland should read Jama Mohamed Ghalib’s articles.

According to Mr. Jowhar, Somaliland, the secessionist administration and Puntland are modern governments. If they are modern states then, definitely, the SSC Regional Administration is, too, a government state, that is striving for a modern system of governance, like the others i.e. Somaliland and Puntland. Therefore, the international community must assist the SSC Regional Administration directly, the same way they assist the other regional administrations i.e., Somaliland, Puntland, and the TFG.

The SSC Regional Administration wants neighbourly coexistence with other clans, trading with them and co-operating with other Somali clans and other entities that exist on Somali soil. In addition, the SSC Regional Administration’s objectives were clearly articulated by Col Ali Hassan Sabarey on his interview with the National post, "Our ultimate goal is to make this area peaceful and prosperous and also seek a united Somalia,”

In addition, the SSC Regional Administration favours a united Somalia under a federal system that respects the rule of law, and constitution, which is based on decentralised structures and a system that empowers the localities that promotes democracy. The main reason the Somali clans destroyed the central government was lack of decentralisation structures.

Mr. Jowhar’s second assertion: War in general is a bad thing; therefore, the SSC Regional Administration shouldn’t be defending itself

Chaos and anarchy continues throughout Somalia. But the real question we need to ask ourselves is who is behind the chaos.

In the south, they are warlords and Islamic extremists. However, in the SSC regions, it is the Somaliland militias which are occupying SSC territories and claiming ownership of the land and the people of SSC. Therefore, Somaliland is the one who is forcing the SSC Regional Administration to defend their people from their aggressions and occupation. As we all know, they invaded on October 15th, 2007 in Las Anod, the capital region of Sool, and are still occupying large portions of the SSC regions.

The leaders of the SSC Regional Administration have repeatedly asked the Somaliland forces to leave their territories. Somaliland authorities have continuously ignored their appeals and have attacked the positions of the SSC Regional Administration. Let’s demand that the secessionist Somaliland leave the SSC regions. As soon as they withdraw their forces from SSC Regional Administration territories, the conflict will cease.

Mr. Jowhar’s third assertion: Let other people determine your destiny and do nothing
To ask the SSC Regional Administration to do nothing is not correct. Rather, they should be encouraged to administer and run their affairs as the United Nations and the USA government is looking into new approaches to solving Somalia’s crisis. Allowing local administrations to work together in a more respectful way encourages peace, cooperation and a better reconciliation that benefits everybody.

The SSC Regional Administration best represents their interests and what is best for their people and that should be respected by all including other regional authorities. Democracy should be encouraged everywhere including in the SSC Regional Administration in particular and in general the rest of Somalia.

The SSC Regional Administration supports the TFG government in Mogadishu. It has a working relationship and therefore supports a federal system unlike Somaliland which wants to separate itself from the rest of Somalia, while claiming ownership over the SSC territories.

Mr. Jowhar’s fourth assertion: The SSC Regional Administration and Dhulbahante are not the same, therefore do not confuse the two

Mr. Jowhar writes and I quote “Somaliland must not confuse the SSC with the great people of Dhulbahante.” How can one separate the land and its right owners, the people who own the land? Carro Dhulbahante means the land of the Dhulbahante, it situates exactly North Central part of Somalia, which has been recognized as an independent state on 5 March 1905 as confirmed by the “Ilig Accord” famously known as the Pestalozza Treaty by the International community. Therefore, the land and the people are the same. The SSC Regional Administration, Carro Dhulbahante, and Dhulbahante clans are inseparable. They are one. The SSC Regional Administration is the government which represents the SSC regions and the people who live in it. Dhulbahante is the people named after the land, Carro Dhulbahante. Dhulbahante clans are the people who established the SSC Regional Administration. You cannot argue they are two different things. That is simply a factual error on Mr. Jowhar’s part or lack of knowledge of the history and cultures of the Somali clans in Somalia.

Mr. Jowhar’s fifth assertion: Diaspora leadership is not unique to the SSC

The Diaspora leadership is a fact of life throughout Somalia and is not an indicator of outside influence in the SSC regions. For example, Saleebaan Ciise Ahmed Kaar (Xaglatoosiye), the President of the SSC Regional Administration is a Somali-American citizen and his Vice-President Colonel Ali Hassan Sabarey is a fellow Somali-Canadian, of whom we are very proud as a good friend and great Somali-Canadian. He is a principled man because he is standing up for what he believes, and is right to lead his people. The SSC Regional Administration leaders are making an enormous sacrifice to help Somalia and its people. It is also true that the President of Somaliland Ahmed Mohamed Siilaanyo is a Somali-British citizen, Abdirahman Mohamed Faroole, the President of Puntland is a Somali-Australian citizen, and TFG Prime Minister is a Somali-American citizen.

Mr. Jowhar, it is time to face up the reality of the situation in Somalia. A federal system that is decentralised from Mogadishu is the way to go about solving Somalia’s crisis. This is how I see Somalia today. It is the reality and let us demand that the secessionist Somalilanders leave the SSC Regional Administration. The sooner they do it the better we will all be.
Mr. Jowhar has ineffectively specified the root causes of the conflict between Somaliland and the SSC administration. He is unsuccessful in explaining to his readers the history of the conflict and what SSC stands for. He needs to re-examine the nature of the SSC’s aims and desires, and to grant the same autonomy and dignity to the SSC for which Somaliland seceded 20 years ago.

Faisal Ahmed Hassan
Email:hassan_faisal@hotmail.com

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Faisal Ahmed Hassan is a writer, translator and radio broadcaster based in Toronto.

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Tribal Homelands – Lessons from the SSC Wars
A Reply to Mr. Abdishakur Jowhar
By Faisal Ahmed Hassan
March 10, 2011

Copyright © 2011 WardheerNews.com

Tribal Homelands – Lessons from the SSC Wars A Reply to Mr. Abdishakur Jowhar By Faisal Ahmed Hassan March 10, 2011

Copyright © 2011 WardheerNews.com

Tribal Homelands – Lessons from the SSC Wars
A Reply to Mr. Abdishakur Jowhar
By Faisal Ahmed Hassan
March 10, 2011