Somalia: Why Britain should rein in Somaliland leaders

[FBISOMALIA]

Renewed fighting in the northern Somalia between forces of Khaatumo and Somaliland administrations shows the fragility of peace agreements between clans more than twenty years after the collapse of state in Somalia. Unlike traditional clan wars the current war in Northern Somalia is a political one.

Somaliland regards the ex-British border between the two provinces (North and South that united to form the Somali Republic in 1960) a basis on which its secession argument is based. Somaliland uses words such as sovereignty when it orders its militias ( known to its supports as Somaliland Army) to attack unionist towns such as Buuhoodle or to open fire on peaceful demonstrators waving the Somali flag in Las Anod town of Sool region.

Although Khaatumo and Somaliland are names of two administrations, the war is between armed men from Dhulbahante and Isaaq clans. Britain ruled the Northern Somalia territories until June 26 1960 and maintains links with that part of Somalia. Britain recognises the Transitional Federal Government and the territorial integrity of Somalia, has provided significant assistance to Somaliland during and after elections in 2010 and is, according to Human Rights and Democracy: The 2010 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report, Britain “ the largest bilateral donor” to Somaliland.

Somaliland’s insistence on and misuse of the term sovereignty is the cause of armed confrontations and the attack on Buuhoodle by Somaliland’s clan forces two weeks ago. These attacks cause widespread human rights violations that merit investigations. As the date of the British-organised Somalia Conference in London draws closer, Britain can play a major role in reining in Somaliland political and traditional leaders who have declared war on peaceful, unionist towns.

Britain has a moral obligation to address the renewed clan warfare and work towards bringing together the two administrations to resolve political problems peacefully. By doing that Britain will send a clear message that it is not taking sides in clan warfare and that human rights violators will be brought to justice. Silence is not an option.