by Abdilahi M. Abdi
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
It is always sad and unfortunate when a war breaks out at any part of Somalia, but there are areas you can expect every hour of our time and some places that shocks you as the news comes up first. Recently the President of the government of Puntland declared multipurpose war against the natural resource troops of district of Galgala and its surroundings led by Mohamed Said (aka Atam). The death toll from conflict tops almost (ninety) on both sides which entered into its third week without any sign of halting or mediation so far. One thing I know is this; since I am an expert of Calmadow area of land which starts from Ethiopia to the edge of Alula district, it will be zero chance for Puntland troops to win this war against those who know the area well and been their ideal hide-out for long time, akin to Afghanistan's Tore Bora Mountains if not worse.
Galgala locates about 60 to 63 kilometer South West of Bosaso.The people of this city are very peaceful who are mainly farmers cultivate all their crops, in addition, god blessed this city with a cool climate when you compare to the one in Bosaso and the surrounding area. Like any other neglected and forgotten parts of the Puntland which locates on the left side of the long highway which runs from Garowe on your way to Bosaso, Galgala has never been active member of Puntland, nor does Puntland administration have any office in that district whatsoever.
What is the authensity claim of Puntland State that Sheikh Atam is terrorist and alshabaab?
Sheikh Atam, is young and an elusive cleric fought Puntland previous administration in the past over oil and mineral exploration projects. In 2006, as much as 36 people died in Majayahan village, and after several failed missions, the then Punt land’s President Ade Muse, abandoned the bloody project. Ever since, Sheikh Atom and his militia stayed in Gal gala, Majayahan and Dalan, and termed themselves (The Defenders of Sanaag Resources).Meanwhile, some say Puntland’s President, Abdirahman Farole, who resided in Australia and holds Australian citizenship, wants to resume the oil and mineral exploration projects, a plan which the people of the area (Galgala, Majayahan, Dalan, etc) fiercely oppose.
In fact, what most Somali administrations have in common in these days especially TFG, Puntland and Somaliland, is if they want to get international support they have to label the terrorist stamp on the other side opposing them who usually happen to be the Islamist groups. So, Ever since Cade’s defeat in Majiyahan, Puntland government inclusively generated a great deal of effort in conveying and propagating a negative reputation about Sheikh Atam in order to rally for an international support behind them. Rumors deliberately spread widely to harm sheikh Atam were fore stance; his is terrorist, he has foreigners in his militia, he is extremely powerful in military, and also he has built an airport so on and so forth. That is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of western countries after 9/11 in order to generate not only a financial support, but also military support from those act as though god gave them the mandate and the responsibility to secure the world.
As a matter of fact, it is very obvious that Sheikh Atam and Puntland Intelligence Service (PIS) will not co-exist for ever and that is what force sheikh Atam to live unto the maintains for almost 6 years. Sheikh Atam knows PIS is most dangerous institution of Puntland State, at same time whenever they get opportunity to get him will be his last dance and that is biggest reason that Sheikh Atam will never trust Puntand government until PIS destroyed. Even though, President Faroole tried to disperse the PIS, American and Ethiopian countries which formed this Institution lashed out that idea.PIS is notorious institution which is famous for selling, killing and torturing the Muslim clerics who they see as active in Puntland society.
My advice:
1) Without exceeding any severity of the situation I would advise Faroole to call back his troops from the recently fought area and come back to negotiation table.
2) Warsangeli Elders have to step into the situation one more time to save more lives before disaster comes to end the situation.
3) All concerned sides must show restraint and give chance to negotiation and peace.
4) Government must compensate all destroyed properties during the war including; burnt Farms, damaged houses, and other properties took by Puntland troops from the civil houses.
5) Puntland troops of Warsangeli only must stay the highway connects between Karin and Laag.
6) Most important PIS must be destroyed whether USA and Ethiopia like or not, if they refuse, people must take the guns and fight them.
Thank you.
Abdilahi M. Abdi
[email protected]