It is was great disappointment to read comments made by E.J. Hogendoorn ICG’s Horn of Africa Project Director in  Nairobi  in respect of the recent targeted killings

of Riyale regime officers in Sool region. In his words Hogendoorn asserted that “the

cause of the instability in Las-Anod is due lack of government presence in the

town”.

This assumption does not only defy the reality and logic  but also demonstrates that

ICG’s analyst lacks basic knowledge of Somali crises and intentionally prepares

recipe for further bloodshed and inter-clan fighting in northern Somalia, in which

the sole beneficiaries will be radical groups and Al Qaeda.

Unlike many Somali cities, Las-Anod was stable and secured city with approximately

150,000 people living peaceful and homogeneously when troops from the breakaway

Somali republic of “Somaliland” seized it on Monday October 15, 2007 killing at

least 15 people.

The invasion created havoc and displacement of the majority of the civilians in the

town who are now living refugee camps in Kenya and other neighboring Somali regions.Among those fled the towns include all traditional leaders of Dhulbahante clan who now live in Garowe as exile.

E.J Hogendoorn was quoted saying that “the violence was inspired by Islamist

elements among the Dhulbahante that are sympathetic to Al-Shabab” but failed to

admit the fact that such inspiration could not be translated into action without the

illegal and unpopular occupation of Somaliland militia.

The reality on the ground is that majority of the Dhulbahante people detest

secessionist agenda of Somaliland and believe that their regions (Sool and Sanaag)

were captured by rival Isaq clan, bearing in mind that Puntland is currently too

weak to regain the region, no doubt some SSC people may consider turning to the

other powers in Somalia including terrorist groups like Shabab to seek support in

order to free their land.

Despite the recent incidents in the town it is believed that peace and stability is

still possible in the region but not through rigid and repressive military power as

suggested by E.J Hogendoorn of ICG but by simple withdrawing Somaliland militia from the town and leaving the security issue on the shoulders of the Dhulbahante people and their traditional leaders. 

Abdul Rahman Hariri – Saudi Arabia

xariri@hotmail.com 

The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.