Northeast State of Somalia
Office of the President

Press Release

The Government of North East State of Somalia condemns the blatant aggression being perpetrated by the secessionist regime of Somaliland against the people of Sanaag and Sool regions, and the Buuhoodle district. As of this writing, July 14, 2016, a large mechanized Somaliland militia force is in the process of invading the Sanaag region in a hostile campaign aimed at destabilizing the area and intimidating the citizens there. This includes heavily mechanized invading force that they have dispatched to Dhahar town and Xingalool in Sanaag for the purpose of trying to cow the people in those communities to go along with their sham clan-based activities.

The regime’s key provocateur agents in this campaign of unmitigated aggression are:Ali Warancade, their Minister of Interior and Ahmed Haji Ali, their so-called Minister of Defense. These two individuals and the regime’s point man in Ceerigabo, whom they refer to as Governor, are driving the regime’s ill-fated invasion. They will be held personally responsible for any damage, loss of life or property that may result from Somaliland’s hostile campaign to conquer or destabilize Sanaag, Sool or the Buuhoodle district.

So, we the Government of the North East, on behalf of the peace-loving citizens of the regions therein, want to warn Somaliland and to let the word go out to the Federal Government of Somalia, the neighboring regions and the International Community to help stop Somaliland’s aggressive, destabilizing maneuvers in these regions.

Somaliland’s menacing activities do not stop with the regime’s recurring attempts at invading neighbors, disturbing the peace and destabilizing peaceful neighboring communities. They are actively supporting extremist forces that operate in Galgala and nearby hamlets in the Cal Madow mountains. The extremists, including al-Shabab and now an off-shoot of ISIS, get the bulk of their logistical support from Somaliland. Similarly, the majority of those groups’ leaders in the mountainous area come and hail from Somaliland.

This Somaliland policy of using violence, intimidation, destabilization and support for jihadist extremists has gone on for more than (20) years. It’s high time that they cease and desist from their default policy tool of using naked aggression against their neighbors and fellow Somalis, and conforms to the international norm of settling conflicts through peaceful dialogue, negotiations and respect for human rights in a democratic process that is fair and transparent. Isn’t it ironic or the height of hypocrisy

that Somaliland points to the international community that they deserve recognition and support because its administration is a champion and practitioner of democracy and human rights unlike the rest of Somalia!

We urge the Federal Government in Mogadishu to stop sleeping at the wheel and take note of Somaliland’s unmitigated campaign of aggression. How in good conscious can the regime in Mogadishu engage in dialogue with the Somaliland administration that is hell bent on the atrocities, mayhem and gross human rights violation of fellow Somalis whose only crime is that they want to determine their own destiny in a democratic process and does not want to secede from the rest of Somalia. Meanwhile, the people of the Northeast, who are being subjected to repeated attacks by Somaliland, and will not give up from defending their God-given rights to live in freedom, peace and shape their destiny and future in democratic process that is part and parcel of the Somali nation.

H.E. Ali Ahmed Fatah
President, Interim Regional Administration
Northeast State of Somalia
Federal Republic of Somalia
Email: presidency@northeaststate.so