Role of G21 in Destabilizing Las Anod
The G21 is an organization composed of 21 prominent individuals from the Darood community, including former presidents, prime ministers, ministers, politicians, and business leaders with strong connections to the international community.
Many of them have also served as leading professors at top Western universities. Most of these senior politicians have served or are currently serving the Somalia government, and they are using their contacts to influence the international community in favor of the militia and elders of Las Anod.
The conflict between President Bihi of Somaliland and the G21 think tank is not new and can be traced back to their differing objectives.
President Bihi was one of the leading politicians and SNM army commanders during the war between Somaliland and Somalia from 1988 to 1991, which overthrew former President Siad Barre. He envisions a stable and prosperous Somaliland. In contrast, the G21 think tank members were mostly junior civil servant diplomats working for former President of Somalia, Mr. Siad Barre, from 1980 to 1991, and university students sponsored by the former President’s government from 1980 to 1991. They belong to the same ethnic group as the former President of Somalia and have a mission to destabilize Somaliland as revenge for their former boss.
Recall that when former President of Somalia, Mr. Siad Barre, and his Prime Minister, Mr. Samatar, bombarded most cities in Somaliland, over 250,000 civilians were killed and over 2 million people displaced. A movement started in the US and Canada to prosecute these criminals, and most of them were either chased or prosecuted by the US government, including the former Prime Minister of Somalia, Mr. Samatar, and the notorious army colonel, Mr. Tuke, who have both been arrested in the USA for crimes against the people of Somaliland.
Somali people use historical wars as revenge and pride for their future generations. The G21’s mission to destabilize Somaliland is fuelled by a desire for revenge against Somaliland for their former boss’s downfall, and they see themselves as carrying out a form of justice. However, their actions only perpetuate violence and instability in the region.
The conflict has historical roots, as Somali culture is full of historical precedent, and is based on poems that recount past victories and defeats. The G21 think tank seeks to avenge their tribe and destabilize Somaliland using the grievances of the Las Anod community.
Former President of Somalia, Mr. Farmajo, spent his five years in power trying to marginalize Somaliland by cutting off aid and centralizing it in Mogadishu, forcing international NGOs to move from Hargeisa to Mogadishu. He also handpicked soldiers who were trained in Eritrea and Turkey, making sure they belonged to his tribe and the Las Anod community, with the aim of using them to fight Somaliland in the future. This strategy is now happening in Las Anod.
President Bihi’s vision for Somaliland is to create a stable and prosperous nation. He has been working hard to attract international investors and promote Somaliland’s economy. However, the G21 think tank and the past and present Somalia government are significant obstacles to his vision. They are determined to destabilize Somaliland, harming the country and threatening regional security.
The tactics employed by the G21 were in development for five years and were ultimately facilitated by the President of the Somali Region of Ethiopia, who belongs to the same ethnic community as the G21. The conflict is now spreading to the region, as many tribes and sub- tribes that also reside in Somaliland are major inhabitants of Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya.
Additionally, new think tank groups have emerged in Somaliland, Ethiopia, and Somalia, belonging to the same community as Dir, and they are now considering ways to destabilize Somalia and the Somali Region of Ethiopia. This includes the diaspora, former army commanders, politicians, and business leaders. This dangerous precedent will destabilize the entire region and give Al-Shabaab an opportunity to exploit the situation. It is important to remember that the current conflict in Las Anod is between the Somaliland National Army on one side and the militia, Al-Shabaab, and Puntland on the other. If the conflict turns ethnic, it could escalate into a civil war, leading to the participation of every 17-year-old under the pretext that their tribe or country is under attack.
My recommendations are:
- The Somaliland government and the elders of Las Anod should both adhere to an unconditional ceasefire, and Las Anod elders should instruct its militia not to attack the Somaliland army to avoid conflicts.
- Leading Somaliland tribal leaders and tribal leaders of Las Anod should meet to resolve the ethnic conflicts that cause these problems and conflicts.
- Puntland should withdraw its army and send the tribal army present in Las Anod back to Puntland.
- Somalia should stop its leading army commanders, the Eritrean and Turkish-trained Somalia army, who are currently in Las Anod fighting against the Somaliland army and send them back to Somalia to fight Al-Shabaab. The main purpose for training those soldiers was to establish peace in Somalia and fight Al-Shabaab, not destabilize Somaliland, which is now the case.
- Somaliland and Somalia peace talks should resume in the UK, Switzerland, or the USA because the cause of these conflicts has roots in the dispute between Somaliland and Somalia.
- Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and the United States should be involved in mediating between the Somaliland government, the Las Anod politicians, and its elders for lasting peace.
- Las Anod elders and politicians should stop using Al-Shabaab fighters to fight the Somaliland Army.
It is crucial for all parties involved to prioritize the goal of establishing peace in the region and work towards a peaceful resolution that benefits all parties. The use of extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab should be condemned, and efforts should be made to prevent their involvement in any conflicts.
It is important to avoid violence and destabilization tactics and seek a long-term solution that addresses the underlying issues between Somaliland and Somalia to prevent future conflicts. The destabilization strategy is not good for the region. The G21 Think Tank’s ultimate goal is to destabilize Somaliland, demonize, and criticize President Bihi, which is why all of the fake images and videos were circulated on social media.