By Dalmar
HARGEYSA, “SOMALILAND” – Muse Bihi, the President of the self-proclaimed Somaliland Republic, today voiced his perspectives on the region’s ongoing conflicts and aspirations for independence. During a military graduation event, Bihi asserted that peace within Somalia is untenable until a formal separation is achieved between the regions once colonized by Italy and Britain.
“There will be no stability in Somalia, Mogadishu, Kismayo until there is separation,” President Bihi stated. His remarks come amid longstanding speculations by Somali intelligence sources about a supposed tacit agreement between Somaliland and the militant group, al-Shabab. According to these claims, the group is permitted passage through Somaliland territory en route to the Galgala Mountains.
The President’s statement offers a more explicit portrayal of Somaliland’s secessionist ambitions, albeit one where alleged connections to al-Shabab remain uncertain. Whether these rumored ties serve as a strategic lever in Somaliland’s quest for sovereignty is yet to be definitively confirmed.
Bihi also touched upon the conflict in Las Anod, attributing it to a coalition comprising elements from al-Shabab and Puntland, which is considered a part of Somalia. These unfounded allegations have been made by Somaliland multiple times, and are considered by analysts as an attempt to de-legitimise the local uprising in Las Anod.
“The so-called coalition army – part of them are al-Shabab and the other part are Puntland, which is part of Somalia. They come up with a new system not seen before in the world to carve up a central country which is not Somalia and not Somaliland that has a clan name,” Bihi claimed.
This rhetoric underscores that the struggle for control in Las Anod is ongoing, and suggests an impending increase in Somaliland’s military presence in the region. Amidst the unfolding complexities, it remains to be seen how these nuanced geopolitical dynamics will shape the future of Somaliland and its desire for recognized independence
