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Somaliland-Khatumo Conflict Can Be Resolved

By Liban Ahmad

Khaatumo map
Khaatumo

The recurrent clashes in Sool region in northern Somalia are undermining the reputation of Somaliland “Republic” as a bastion of democracy.  Its state-building model is now being proposed as a lesson for Southern Somalia in its search for  a durable state.  Neither those in favour of union nor those keen on secession will win if a political solution is not found. Within this seemingly intractable conflict lie opportunities for peace-making.

Two principles will guide the peace-making effort. Principle One will be used to explore weaknesses and strengths in each side’s argument to promote self-criticism instead of self-righteousness.  Principle Two will make use of brainstorming. The aim is to challenge each side to own up to weaknesses and suggest ways to convert them into strengths.

Let us apply one of those two principles to Khatumo “State” and to Somaliland “Republic”. Khatumo was formed in 2012  as autonomous administration independent of both Puntland and Somaliland administrations. The Somali Federal Government has not officially recognised it.  Geographically, territories Khatumo “State” claims lie within what was once known as Ex-British Somaliland. Emergence of Khatumo is a vote of no confidence for the kinship-based principles on which Puntland was founded in 1998. Khatumo enjoys a massive Diaspora support and considerable local support in territories under Somaliland administration.  In reality, it is a third, well- organised political group claiming to represent the Dhulbahante clan. It is in competition for loyalty with two groups supported by Somaliland and Puntland. Hostility from Puntland  and Somaliland  towards Khatumo    deprives its leaders of  a major condition conducive to forming a local administration. In its first six years either Somaliland or Puntland did not face external, clan-based threats to its state-building efforts.

Areas under Khatumo have been attacked or taken over by Somaliland forces more than four times since 2012. Two Khatumo co-founding presidents have defected to Puntland — a continuing trend of turn-coat politicians and traditional leaders who profit from conflict. According to the Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea,  Khatumo “could indirectly benefit Al-Shabaab”. The Wikipedia entry of Khatumo contains  a translation of “Khatumo State of Somalia”  into Arabic  as Wilāyat Arḍ al-Khatoum aṣ-Ṣūmāliyyah .  Wilayat  is an Arabic word used by Al-Shabaab to describe a regional administration under its control. However, Khatumo leaders have never been sympathetic to Al-Shabaab.

Somaliland  “Republic”  declared unilateral secession  from Somalia in 1991. No country has recognized Somaliland. It has many strengths ranging from spearheading  locally conceived reconciliation   to promoting  peaceful coexistence of clans during 1990s.  Since 2010 Somaliland government responses to challenges from unionist groups such as now-defunct SSC and its successor,  Khatumo,  have been eroding its institution-building record. There is a credibility gap between what Somaliland leaders tell their constituencies and what they tell the international community.

Somaliland government security officials told Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea they are concerned  that  Al-Shabaab could  “take advantage of clan division within the Dhulbahante.”  Somaliland  government  has never admitted inability or failure to reconcile two groups of a clan  it regards as one of Somaliland “ Republic” clans. Between 2010 and 2011 DFID committed £82,208 to Conflict Management and Peacebuilding in Sool and Sanaag. Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to “encouraging a national, regional, and local political settlement and peace-building mechanisms”  to assist Somalis “in reducing conflict and increasing stability in Somalia.”

In a report published October 2014,  the United Nations Development Programme stated the  “dispute” between Somaliland and Khatumo forces  “has   development and humanitarian implications in the region”. Aynaba district is a part  of  pre-1991 Sool region but Somaliland government has  created a new region called Saraar with Aynaba being its administrative capital ; it is not affected by development and humanitarian implications of the conflict in Sool. Since 2004 Somaliland forces fought  more  than five battles of different durations ( 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2012). Two of those battles pitted Somaliland forces against Puntland forces (2004 and 2007); three against Khatumo and its predecessor, SSC.

Khatumo and Somaliland could be helped to explore ways to work together to reverse the impact  of conflict- induced underdevelopment in Sool. It will be a win-win situation and show stakeholders that Khatumo and Somaliland leaders have the interests of people in Sool at heart.  Money earmarked for development projects in Sool but either withheld by donors or channelled to peaceful regions could  be re-channeled  to Las Anod, Huddun and Taleh districts of Sool. This will be the fruits of cooperation between Khatumo and Somaliland. Presence of observers and mediators from the international community at the talks will ensure that negotiators receive the help they need at any stage during negotiations. If Somaliland government and Khatumo succeed to cooperate on helping people in Sool to benefit from development and humanitarian initiatives, there will be a big room for sharing inclusive political institutions.

Liban Ahmad
Email:[email protected]


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