Somaliland should consolidate its gains in Las Anod and pursue regime change in Majeerteenya

EDITORIAL

The expulsion of Majeerteenya’s (Puntland) militias from Las Anod by the combined and coordinated efforts of Somaliland’s army and the people of Las Anod, and Somaliland army’s reaching of the outer limits of Somaliland’s borders, is such a momentous event in Somaliland’s history, people are still digesting what happened. Many questions are being asked: how did it happen? What made it possible for Somaliland to finally achieve what it could not achieve for many years? Why now? What’s next?

It’s too early to answer all of these and other related questions, but one thing is clear: Somaliland succeeded this time because it had the support of Las Anoders.

For the victory in Las Anod to bear fruit, Somaliland must simultaneously undertake the following two tasks: the consolidation of the change that took place in Las Anod and defending Somaliland’s eastern borders from outside threats. Realizing these twin objectives will require an integrated approach with political, economic and military components.

In Las Anod, priority should be given to calming down people’s fears, restoring basic services and establishing law and order. To bring about these goals will need the cooperation of the people of Las Anod, which, in turn, would require the starting of dialogue among the various sections of Las Anod community.

Somaliland’s government should not be saddled with this task alone. Somaliland’s civil society, business and community organizations, as well as concerned citizens, should help, too.

When it comes to securing Somaliland’s borders, although the Minister of Information, Ahmed Haji Dahir, erred in his choice of words, he was right in warning Majeerteenya (Puntland) that Somaliland will take the fight to Garowe and Bosaso if Majeerteenya did not cease its hostile activities against Somaliland. In other words, the best way to defend Somaliland’s borders, is to retaliate against those who attack it by hitting them where it hurts, and for Majeerteenya that means making Garowe and Bosaso a target. Actually, with or without future attacks by Majeerteenya, based on Majeerteenya’s previous deeds and most recent declarations, Somaliland is justified in pursuing a policy of ending the reign of Majeerteenya’s current leaders, and should do so. Furthermore, with their defeat in Las Anod and their massacres of the Warsangali in Bosaso this week, Majeerteenya’s administration has been greatly discredited and seriously weakened, therefore, this is the right time to put an end to the threat from Majeerteenya.

Although Garowe is Majeerteenya’s capital, it only has a symbolic value, so a more worthy target is Majeerteenya’s cash cow, Bosaso. Expelling Majeerteenya’s current administration from Bosaso in coordination with some other friendly elements from that town and helping those elements take it over, would make Majeerteenya’s leaders think twice about causing trouble for Somaliland. Such policy would not only be in Somaliland’s self interests, but it would also have the additional advantage of bringing an end to a host of criminal and inhuman activities such as the printing of false money, piracy, arms trafficking and human trafficking which have become the trademark of Majeerteenya’s current leaders.

Source: Somaliland Times

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