Mogadishu, SOMALIA – The town of Luuq in the Gedo region has erupted into violent clan conflicts, resulting in at least 10 deaths and numerous injuries since Friday afternoon. This outbreak of violence serves as a stark reminder of the fragile nature of Somalia’s social fabric and the persistent challenges facing the nation’s quest for stability. However, the response from Somalia’s leadership, particularly President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has raised questions about the government’s approach to addressing these deep-rooted issues.
The President’s Rhetoric
President Hassan Sheikh’s reaction to the Somalia clan conflicts has been notably focused on external factors rather than addressing the immediate causes or proposing concrete solutions. In a statement at the opening of the 5th session of the Somali Parliament in Mogadishu, the President asserted, “These repeated civil wars are part of the plan of the enemies and terrorists to confront the Somali people, so that we can turn away from the liberation of the country from [Al-Shabab].” This rhetoric, while seemingly aimed at rallying national unity against external threats, appears to be a calculated attempt at political deflection.
By framing the issue as part of a larger conspiracy against the Somali people, Hassan Sheikh seems to be attempting to shift focus away from his administration’s responsibilities and shortcomings in addressing the root causes of these conflicts. This approach raises questions about the government’s willingness to confront the complex realities of clan dynamics and the consequences of its own policies.
While it’s true that Al-Shabab has historically benefited from clan conflicts and societal divisions within Somalia, there is no concrete evidence linking the terrorist group to the recent clashes in Luuq. The President’s suggestion that Al-Shabab is actively stoking these clan wars appears to be an oversimplification of a much more complex issue.
It’s crucial to note that the very clans involved in these conflicts were armed by President Hassan Sheikh’s administration as part of its strategy to combat Al-Shabab. This fact adds a layer of irony to the President’s accusations and highlights the potential short-sightedness of the government’s security policies. The Somalia clan conflicts political manipulation evident in the President’s statements seems to ignore the reality that the tools provided for fighting terrorism have now become instruments of inter-clan violence.
Milking External Tensions
In addition to Al-Shabab, President Hassan Sheikh’s reference to “other enemies” appears to be a thinly veiled allusion to Ethiopia. This aspect the clan conflicts political manipulation taps into the recent tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, particularly surrounding the controversial memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland. By invoking the specter of Ethiopian interference, the President seems to be attempting to leverage these external tensions for internal political gain.
This strategy of political manipulation of the clan conflicts in Somalia, while potentially effective in rallying nationalist sentiment, risks overshadowing the genuine domestic issues at the heart of the clan conflicts. It also raises questions about the government’s priorities: is the focus on external threats distracting from the urgent need to address internal divisions and governance challenges?
The clashes in Luuq are part of a broader pattern of inter-clan violence that has plagued Somalia for decades. These conflicts often stem from disputes over resources, political representation, and historical grievances. The political manipulation of clan conflicts in Somalia by the current administration fails to address these underlying issues, instead opting for a narrative that places blame entirely on external factors.
The Consequences of Arming Clans
President Hassan Sheikh’s strategy of arming clan militias to combat Al-Shabab has had far-reaching consequences. While the intention may have been to create a unified front against terrorism, the reality has been a proliferation of armed groups with competing interests and agendas.
This approach has effectively militarized clan rivalries, turning what might have been political or economic disputes into armed conflicts. The situation in Luuq, while these clans were not armed by the government, it is a prime example of how these armed clan militias can easily turn their weapons on each other, exacerbating existing tensions and creating new cycles of violence.
The President’s statements fails to acknowledge this crucial aspect of the problem. By deflecting responsibility onto external actors, the government avoids confronting the consequences of its own policies and the need for a more nuanced approach to security and clan relations.
A strong leader would be expected to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation, perhaps by deploying neutral security forces, initiating dialogue between the conflicting clans, or addressing the specific grievances that led to the outbreak of violence. Instead, the focus on external threats and conspiracy theories suggests a leadership that is either unwilling or unable to grapple with the complex realities on the ground.