Patriotism crushed tribalism in Sool and eastern Sanaag of Somaliland

"La Ya Garad" in Arabic and Somali, which means "No Mr. Garad" in English.

History repeated itself in Laasaanood after the people of Sool evicted the Puntland militia from their territory and redefined Sool as an integral part of Somaliland due to the Puntland’s failed tribalism theory. The recent public uprising against Puntland was expected due to illegal activities of the militia in the region.

In 1960, Ali Garad Jama – Minister in Somaliland’s first cabinet and Chief tribe of Dhulbenta tribe in Sool – stressed on the need to congeal the fledgling Somaliland independence before uniting with Somalia.

The Garad and other cabinet members were enthusiastic towards Somaliland independence. Unfortunately, the public, including the "Sultans" chief tribes who had no experience in forging unity, disregarded the outstanding theory of Garad and threw the independence in to darkness. "La Ya Garad" is common proverb used in Somaliland nowadays.

Puntland’s xenophobic attitude against Somalilanders in Sool region has impelled the patriotic citizens of Sool and Eastern Sanaag to reconsider their relations with Puntland. The citizens supported the Somaliland National Army to overtake the administration of Laasanod from Puntland in 2007. Puntland militia failed to understand to leave Somaliland soil peacefully and they were chased by the people of Sool and Eastern Sanaag.

Puntland occupation in Sool and eastern Sanaag led to a social imbalance due to the lack of basic services like water and education. Puntland accused Somaliland of instigating secessionist acts in Greater Somalia but the real instigators are those who support the disintegration of other countries like Ethiopia and Kenya. Puntland supports ONLF, an armed militia fighting illegally against Ethiopia in the areas 5th Region by the name of Ogaden tribe.

Puntland was established on wrong ideology "The trablism". In Somalia, a tribe cannot be nation. This ideology failed due to its whimsical nature. It was derived from irrational principles, which state that Puntland is an administration that belongs to a tribe. Also, the ideology neglected the minority tribes under the Puntland administration like ARAB SALAH. This ideology grown wrongly until the entire key ministries went to one tribe in Puntland administration.

Only after few weeks of liberating Laasaanood, the government of Somaliland and its people are taking initiative steps to restore the basic social services like clean water and electricity. Governor of Sool Region Sandulla recently inaugurated government factory to provide clean drinking water to the people of Lasanod, this will be first time of clean water supplies in Lasanod. Even the Siad Barre regime failed to establish it.

Before occupying Lasanod in 2003, Puntland leaders thought that political differences between the political parties of Somaliland (UCID, UDUB and Kulmiye) will disturb the security and stability of the country. Puntland leaders missed that differences in political views does not affect the national unity and territorial integrity of Somaliland. When it comes to national interest, Somalilanders are the best to face the challenge united.

After losing the battle in eastern regions of Somaliland, the Puntland administration start killing the Somalilanders in Puntland, who are originally from Sool and Sanaag. Somali websites reported that the police of Puntland bombed a house belong to Somalilanders and killed many people in Bosaso. The Puntland administration is unable to retaliate.

The Somaliland Forces cordoned off the border between Somaliland and Somalia and vowed to destroy anybody who will violate the international borderline between the Somaliland and Somalia.

The Somaliland Army refrained from entering the city when the Lasanod citizens liberated their region from the Puntland militia, who robbed and killed the innocent citizens in many years of Puntland occupation in the city.

Today, the people of Sool control and run the administration of their city, and soon will elect local municipality Council just like the other Somaliland regions. This is product of unique model of democracy in Somaliland unlike many African countries.

About human trafficking and hijacking in Puntland, the administration in Garowe takes lion’s share in the human trafficking revenues, and ransom money from the hijacked vessels. Recently, French army arrested some of the hijackers of French tourist vessels from the international water near Somalia, the arrested hijackers were members of Puntland security as they – the hijackers – confessed to French security.

Reuter’s news agency wrote: besides the smuggling of drugs, small weapons and charcoal, the Bossasso Port is also a hub of the fourth most lucrative export item handled by port is human cargo, usually Somalis and Ethiopians trying to catch up better life into Saudi Arabia through Yemen. The human trafficking trade out of Somalia is now one of the busiest, most lucrative in Boosaaso in Puntland.

One of the terrible stories about human trafficking in Bossasso says "In one particularly horrific case the crew of the smuggling boat killed all the passengers, except a 10-year-old Ethiopian boy, Badesa, who was kept to clean the boat. He was eventually dumped back in Boosaaso where, after days on end with little water and no food, he was found sitting on the pavement. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) took him to a hospital and arranged his repatriation to Ethiopia. He is now recovering from starvation but unable to speak, traumatised from his horrific experience." By Reuters

These corrupted leaders in Puntland should know that free societies like Somaliland will bring them to International Court against their barbaric inhuman acts in Puntland. They should know that international court is one of the places that wait every criminal in the world.

The people of Lasanod chose the nation over tribalism. They have rewritten Lasanod’s history in Somaliland before and after the independence. Puntland cannot win the hearts of the people of Lasanod by using the name of the tribe because the Somali speaking people are scattered in different countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti.

The Somaliland people should coordinate with the government, parliament and civil societies to rebuild Lasanod.

Email: az.almutairi@yahoo.com