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Wararka Maanta

Europe’s Message Is Clear: Tolerance Cannot Be a Cover for Extremism

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  Today’s demonstrations across Berlin, London, and Paris sent a message louder than any political statement: Europeans are no longer willing to watch their societies drift toward instability under the banner of “tolerance.” The crowds that filled the streets were not driven by hatred or exclusion — they were driven by a simple demand that every government should take seriously: security first. For years, extremist networks — especially the Muslim Brotherhood — have learned how to operate behind the shield of religious discourse. They present themselves as community leaders, activists, or “voices of the marginalized,” all while pushing agendas that undermine national cohesion, exploit public freedoms, and create parallel societies. Europe’s mistake was assuming these groups were harmless. But as today’s protests showed, citizens have learned the truth the hard way. They’ve watched radical narratives spread in schools and community centers, foreign-funded networks penetrate local ...
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Negotiating the Fate of Las Anod Prisoners: A Step Towards Peace in Somaliland

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The Somaliland government has announced its readiness to negotiate the fate of prisoners captured during the Las Anod conflict. This move comes nearly a year after the guns fell silent between the Somaliland National Army and the SSC-Khaatumo forces of the Dhulbahante in Las Anod, the capital of the Sool region.

Background of the Conflict

The conflict erupted on February 6, 2023, following a violent crackdown on civil protests by Somaliland security forces. Tensions escalated when Garad Jama Garad Ali, the supreme Garad of Dhulbahante, declared an intention to secede and reunite with the Federal Government of Somalia. In response, President Muse Bihi launched a prolonged military operation, including artillery bombardment, to subdue Las Anod. However, by August 2023, the Somaliland Army had retreated from the city.

The clashes resulted in over 300 deaths and displaced between 153,000 and 203,000 people. Many fled to Buuhodle and the Ethiopian border externally and to SSC-Khaatumo territories such as Taleh, Hudun, and Buuhodle or Puntland cities like Garowe, Galkacyo, and Burtinle internally. An Amnesty International report documented indiscriminate shelling by Somaliland security forces, which damaged schools, mosques, and hospitals and caused civilian casualties.

Humanitarian Efforts

In late August 2023, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) conducted its first visit to over 300 detainees in Las Anod, ensuring humane treatment and communication with their families. The ICRC also facilitated the transfer of four wounded prisoners to Qaran Hospital in Garowe for specialized treatment and the release of two detainees from Las Anod to Hargeisa in a humanitarian operation. Senior UN officials have called for a prisoner swap to further the peace process.

Government's Stance on Negotiations

Mohamed Kahin Ahmed, Somaliland’s Minister of Interior, expressed the government's willingness to engage in peaceful, unconditional discussions regarding the prisoners. “The Somaliland government is in a good position regarding these prisoners and is always ready for peaceful, unconditional discussions on this matter,” Ahmed told BBC Somali.

While negotiations have commenced, Ahmed noted that specifying a resolution timeline is currently impossible. Despite the challenges, the announcement marks a significant step towards peace and reconciliation.

Historical Context

Somaliland declared independence in 1991 within the borders of the former British Somaliland. However, the Dhulbahante clan, primarily from the Sool, Sanaag, and Buuhoodle regions, opposed the secession and boycotted Somaliland elections in protest. In 2003, the unionist Puntland state took control of Las Anod, only for the Somaliland army to seize control in 2007, leading to significant unrest and violence.

On June 7, 2023, the UN Security Council called for the immediate withdrawal of Somaliland security forces. The conflict has drawn international attention, with various organizations urging a peaceful resolution and respect for human rights.

Moving Forward

Somaliland's Commander Nuh Ismail Tani has vowed to retake the contested Sool region as recently as mid-May. However, the current move towards negotiation and potential prisoner swaps indicates a glimmer of hope for a peaceful resolution. As the international community watches closely, the progress of these talks could set a precedent for resolving long-standing conflicts in the region.

For further updates on this evolving situation, stay tuned to Maanta Media.

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Maant iyo Soomaaliya

Flash Floods Displace 107,000 in Somalia: Urgent Humanitarian Response Needed

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In a distressing development, flash floods, triggered by heavy rains, have wreaked havoc in the Baidoa district of southwestern Somalia, resulting in the displacement of approximately 107,000 people, according to a statement released by the United Nations' humanitarian agency on Sunday. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations (OCHA) reported that numerous homes, including improvised shelters housing more than 86,700 internally displaced people across 136 displacement sites in Baidoa, were submerged in floodwaters. These flash floods mark the onset of the October to December rainy season in Somalia, which is expected to bring above-normal rains and increased flooding due to the influence of El-Nino conditions in the region, as stated by OCHA in its latest update. Somalia has already endured five seasons of drought since mid-2021, leading to the displacement of over 1.4 million people and the loss of 3.8 million livestock. The recent heavy rains ...
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Xiisada Itoobiya ay raadinayso marinka Dekedda Badda Cas; Soomaaliya oo diiday dalabkii

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Tallaabadan oo sii xoojisay xiisadda gobolka, ayaa Itoobiya waxay dhawaan ka codsatay Soomaaliya in lagala xaajoodo sidii ay u heli lahayd dekedda Badda Cas, codsigaas oo uu hoos u dhac weyn ku yimid. Ismariwaaga ayaa salka ku haya rabitaanka Itoobiya ee ah in ay si toos ah u gasho Badda Cas, taas oo ay lumisay markii Eritrea ay xornimada qaadatay 1993 ka dib colaad saddex iyo toban sano qaadatay. Ra'iisul wasaaraha Itoobiya Abiy Axmed ayaa todobaadkii hore ka dhawaajiyay digniin ku saabsan suurtagalnimada colaadaha mustaqbalka haddii dalkiisa uu sii wado la'aanta marinka tooska ah ee dekedda. Wuxuu ku booriyay baahida loo qabo in xal laga gaaro arrintan si loo ilaaliyo xasilloonida gobolka. Wasiiru Dowlaha Wasaaradda Arrimaha Dibadda Soomaaliya Mudane Cali Cumar ayaa sheegay in Soomaaliya ay ka go’an tahay Nabadda, Amniga, Ganacsiga iyo Is-dhexgalka, balse waxa uu si adag u sheegay in Soomaaliya aysan u janjeerin in ay hesho Hanti Istiraatiiji ah oo la mid ah Dekadda. Wuxuu ca...
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President of Somalia Addresses Son's Involvement in Istanbul Traffic Accident

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In a recent turn of events, the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, spoke out about the involvement of his son, Mohammed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in a tragic traffic accident in Istanbul. The incident, which resulted in the passing of a 38-year-old motorcycle courier, Yunus Emre Gocer, has stirred both national and international attention. President Mohamud, in an interview with The Associated Press, clarified that his son, a 40-year-old physician, did not flee Turkey following the accident. Contrary to rumors, he asserted that his son remained at the scene and even stayed in Istanbul for several days after the unfortunate mishap. Mohamud emphasized that his son retained legal representation and there was no warrant for his arrest at the time he left the country. Regrettably, six days after the accident, Gocer succumbed to his injuries in a hospital on December 6, prompting Turkish authorities to issue an arrest order for the president's son and restrict his travel. However,...
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Tensions Rise as Ethiopia Seeks Red Sea Port Access; Somalia Declines Offer

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In a move that has heightened regional tensions, Ethiopia recently requested negotiations with Somalia to secure access to a Red Sea port, a plea that was met with a firm decline. The standoff centers around Ethiopia's desire for direct access to the Red Sea, which it lost when Eritrea gained independence in 1993 after a three-decade-long conflict. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed last week sounded a warning about the potential for future conflict if his country continued to lack direct access to a harbor. He urged the need for a resolution to this issue to maintain regional stability. Somalia's State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Omar, conveyed his country's unwavering commitment to peace, security, trade, and integration but firmly stated that Somalia is not inclined to grant access to a strategic asset like a port. He emphasized the sacrosanct nature of Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, declaring them non-negotiable. During a televised lecture...
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