President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia must be decisive against secessionists in the north. By now, it should be crystal clear that separatists in Hargeisa were never about justice or freeing local populations from brutal military regime as claimed.
Separatists’ mission has always been to splinter Somalia. They spared no effort in pursuit of this goal.
For decades, secessionists pushed false narratives about the colonial history of Somalia. They spent enormous sums of donated money received in the name of Somalia to misconstrue contemporary history.
Secessionists exaggerated Somalia’s military government efforts to repel rebels backed by Ethiopia. The propaganda wing of the movement invented cities leveled and mass graves.
Advancing rebels with Ethiopia’s backing and Somali troops trying to rebel against them were equally responsible for the destruction of property. The circulated pictures of mass graves were primarily the results of clan civil war.
Secessionists embarked on a journey of committing the exact atrocities and injustices they accused of Somalia’s military government. The movement subjugated citizens of Awdal, Sool, Sanaag, and parts of Togdheer for decades. Somalis in these regions laid low in the interest of relative stability.
Secessionists started killing local community leaders with high frequency across cities. Separatist leaders also stole aid resources intended for the local population.
Finally, residents of Las Anod became fed up and started to bear arms to defend themselves. It was a herculean effort.
Many doubted the likelihood of driving secessionists out of Las Anod. Separatists spent the previous 30 years stacking up weapons and ammunition.
For nearly nine months, secessionist forces indiscriminately shelled the city of Las Anod, killing many and uprooting hundreds of thousands. The shelling destroyed vital public infrastructure and private properties.
Through sheer will and broad support among Somalis, unionists in Las Anod prevailed. Secessionists suffered a crushing defeat.
Today, secessionists are pulling what could be the last trick to splinter Somalia. Muse Bihi ceded parts of Awdal to Ethiopia.
There is strong evidence that Mohamud agreed in principle with Bihi about the infamous Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Ethiopia unveiled on January 1st, 2024. The two differed on the mechanics of implementation.
MOU described an Ethiopian military base and a port built by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Mohamud preferred a similar arrangement as the port of Berbera, which he signed on behalf of Somalia.
The wheels came off after Bihi linked the deal to the recognition of the separatist region. Bihi is in a deep political hole within the secessionist movement. The only way he can dig himself out is to get recognition for the bankrupted idea.
Bihi’s actions had some merits in Mohamud’s governing doctrine of Somalia. Mohamud has embraced confederation ideology. Under the confederation doctrine, a separatist region can enter an agreement ceding control of land and sea to a foreign country.
Muse Bihi only went rogue in tactics and public relations rhetoric. That is what triggered an avalanche of public outcry.
In an unintended way, Bihi exposed flaws in Mohamud’s governing philosophy. Mohamud has only rhetorically calibrated since the infamous MOU.
Mohamud’s response to the proposed annexation has been lackluster. Mohamud failed to exercise the options available to him.
Internally, Mohamud could declare Awdal as a federal member administrative region. That would diminish secessionists’ claim of controlling this region. It will also empower unionists in this region to organize and lead defense against a potential invasion from Ethiopia.
Externally, Mohamud could immediately serve diplomatic ties with Ethiopia. Many more minor infractions often lead to the expulsion of ambassadors among nations.
Mohamoud could request an immediate military pact with Turkey and Eritrea, two countries that consistently stood with Somalia. The military alliances would shift geopolitics in the horn.
Mohamud has yet to do any of the above actions, which is quite telling. The lack of decisiveness encourages conduct such as the one in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia found an opening in the fracture that became synonymous with Somalia. Secessionists are the latest window for Ethiopia into Somalia fractures.
It is time for Mohamud to abandon confederation and appeasing secessionists. It is time to be decisive and confront the menace facing Somalia spearheaded by secessionists in northern Somalia.
Author is a Technology Entrepreneur and long time civic leader. Follow him @fuguni.
Leave a Reply