Secessionists are at the highest levels of Somalia’s nominally functioning and deeply corrupt national government. Among them is Deputy Prime Minister Salah Jama.
Jama recently spoke during a dinner in Mogadishu. He blamed traditional leaders of the Sool region, particularly the city of Las Anod, for the violence that killed hundreds and displaced nearly 200,000 people. He further accused those who came to aid residents of the besieged city.
Jama incorrectly absolved responsibility from his separatist comrades from Hargeisa. Instead, he characterized the secessionist rulers as “elites.”
The conflagration in northern Somalia erupted after years of relative stability. The root cause of the current violence is the bank corrupt idea of secessionism.
Somali National Movement (SNM) leaders worked to split the country over 30 years but found no receptive ear. Residents of Sool, Sanaag Caayn, and Awdal specifically never embraced the conspiracy.
However, the residents of the regions above and local leaders laid low to avoid conflict. They were always hopeful of the Somali Republic rising again.
The people Jama described as “elites” started killing local community leaders in low intensity in cities like Las Anod. Secessionist leaders also stole aid resources intended for the local population. Finally, residents of Las Anod became fed up and started bearing arms to defend themselves.
Secessionist leaders had a plethora of options to avoid bloodshed in Las Anod. They could retreat, regroup, and try to reconstitute the status quo. They could also call an end to secessionism and acknowledge clear objections of unionist communities.
Despite these many options, secessionist leaders opted to shell the city.
Separatist militia destroyed water facilities, hospitals, Schools, Mosques, and other public infrastructure. Leaders who commit these kinds of appalling atrocities are not elites. They are criminals and thugs.
Unfortunately, secessionist criminal leaders in Hargeisa who should be indicted for high crimes and grows human rights abuses have comrades in the Somalia national government. Salah Jama is one of them.
Author is a Technology Entrepreneur and long-time civic leader. He tweets @fuguni. Follow him for more in-depth analysis.
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