By Mohamed Ali Mire

The recent visit of the British Ambassador to Somalia Mr. Michael Nithavrianak, in Garowe, the capital city of Puntland, has stirred significant attention, particularly in the context of the ongoing election crisis in the region. The ambassador engaged in discussions with the Puntland Government, ostensibly aiming to facilitate a resolution to the impasse between the president and opposition groups as the upcoming elections loom.

While media coverage portrayed the ambassador’s visit as a diplomatic effort to mediate and address the election crisis, it has come to light that the underlying purpose of the meeting was more nuanced and potentially alarming. Rather than being solely focused on electoral matters, the primary objective became clear as the ambassador conveyed a message to Puntland that pertained to the Khatumo-SSC state.

According from reliable sources from Puntland, the ambassador’s message was unequivocal: “Khatumo-SSC is outside of your authority, and you must refrain from engaging.” Furthermore, he disclosed that the United Kingdom would take the initiative to facilitate international peace negotiations between SSC and Somaliland. This revelation hints at a sinister agenda that extends beyond the would-be Somalia-Somaliland reconciliation, raising concerns about the potential ramifications for the newly recognized Khatumo-SSC state.

Analysing further the ambassador’s mission to Puntland, it becomes apparent that Khatumo-SSC is caught in the crosshairs of secret plan orchestrated and financed by the UK government.

The ambassador’s statements implies a wishful thinking of an agreement between
” Somaliland” and SSC so that in future, “Somaliland” will sit down with Somalia as a monolithic entity. The ambassador and his cohorts however, ignores the fact that SSC people have now their own state recognised by the Federal Government of Somalia. This diabolical agenda by the ambassador gains credence when considering also the activities of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Catriona Laing, in the UN General Assembly.

One notable instance has been when the Special Representative and Head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (SRSG) Ms. Catriona Laing,  briefed not long ago the UN assembly on the conflict in Lasanod, where Somaliland forces engaged in indiscriminate shelling for eight consecutive months, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties and the destruction of critical infrastructure as well as displacing more than 250 000 residents. Rather than presenting an objective account of the situation, Ms Laing downplayed the magnitude of the conflict, describing it as a low-level fight between the “Somaliland” government and a militia, reporting only 26 of actual casualties.

Moreover, when the “Somaliland” forces were eventually defeated, and Lasanod was liberated on 25^th August of this year, the UN General Assembly initiated urgent humanitarian assistance to the SSC regions, and it became the responsibility of the SRSG to oversee its delivery. However, despite repeated inquiries by the Khatumo-SSC government and particularly by the president of Khatumo-SSC, Mr Abdilkadir Aw Ali the SRSG has evaded questions regarding humanitarian assistance to SSC and has yet to fulfil the general secretary’s orders, raising further suspicions about her impartiality in the matter.

On another occasion, she inquired the President of Khatumo-SSC about the potential release of Somaliland Prisoners of War (PWOs), approaching the matter with diplomatic tact. When questioned about the likelihood of President Muse Bihi, leader of “Somaliland” launching another attack on SSC, she responded by asserting that Mr. Bihi, seems unresponsive to the concerns raised by the UK, a key contributor to his government’s funding.

In a related development, the SRSG, acting as the penholder, presented a draft resolution on October 31 to renew the mandate of UNSOM (United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia). The contents of the draft were particularly contentious as they seemed to undermine the sovereignty of Somalia. Fortunately, the draft faced opposition from Chinese and Russian representatives, who exposed the biased policy of the UK not only towards Khatumo-SSC but also towards Somalia as a sovereign nation.

In one more disturbing instance, Ms Laing did not pay much attention to a request sent by the regional director of FOHOF(Friends of Horn Foundation) who hails from SSC region to the international NGO`s and United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Somalia. The request was UNMAS to provide much needed assistance for the thousands of displaced families and their children who are even today posed by lethal threats of ERW (explosive remnants of war).

Obviously, these actions do manifest Ms Liang´s lack of impartiality and can be rooted in longstanding animosities stemming from colonial legacies and from Dervish struggle against the British rule in Nothern Somalia (1889-1921). The policy trajectory is transparent, and it is not only inimical to the interests of Khatumo-SSC but also undermines the very existence of the SSC people.

It is also well-documented that Somaliland has received military aid, funded by British taxpayers, for “Somaliland’s” military training purposes. There is a widespread belief among the Somalis that the assassinations carried out in Lasanod, resulting in the deaths of more than 140 people, including businesspeople, politicians, and other prominent residents of Lasanod, were orchestrated by the Rapid Response Unit (RRU), a special Somaliland police force trained by the UK.

The ulterior motive behind these assassinations is written on the wall. These were intended to create an atmosphere conducive to an exodus from the SSC regions, subsequently resulting in “Somaliland” and its foreign supporters to inherit and access to the oil-rich wells such as Holhol, situated not far from Lasanod. This calculated strategy aligns with a broader geopolitical agenda that transcends immediate regional concerns and significantly impacts the socio-political landscape of the affected regions.

In conclusion, the complexities associated with the British ambassador’s mission to Puntland and Ms. Laing’s activities are evident, underscoring the urgency for the SSC community to remain vigilant and safeguard the integrity of Khatumo-SSC. The Khatumo-SSC state should also promptly issue a formal statement denouncing both the ambassador and Ms. Laing. Additionally, the SSC diaspora in the UK is urged to organize peaceful protests in London and outside the British Parliament to express their concerns.

Mohamed Ali Mire
Email: m.mmirreh@gmail.com