BOSASO, Somalia – “Shades of gray,” some might say, yet the harrowing raid by the notorious ISIS in Northeastern State was as blatant as a bull in a china shop—jarring and disheartening. The lurking presence of ISIS in Somalia, particularly in the supposedly secure enclave of Northeastern State, was an open secret, yet often considered a dwarf concern compared to the formidable shadow of al-Shabaab.
The shockwaves from ISIS’s brazen strike on Northeastern State’s military outposts still echo like a haunting chorus across our land, illuminating the chasm of discord between the regional heads of Northeastern State and the central administration in Mogadishu. This isn’t merely a tempest in a teapot; it’s a wake-up call.
Although Mogadishu has made gestures of support from afar and joined in the chorus of condemnation, Northeastern State feels it’s either reading smoke signals or they missed their carrier pigeon. Alas, encouragement is fine, but lipstick on a pig won’t fix the damage on the ground, and as seen, sometimes words are as empty as a pocket. The need of the hour was boots on the ground according to Mohamud Aideed Dirir, Northeastern State’s chosen spokesman, who rhetorically mulled over Somalia’s potential reinforcement that could have joined the ranks, rather than sending sumpthin’ mere statements.
Behind closed doors, no love’s lost between the hearts of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu and Said Abdullahi Deni in Northeastern State administration. The squabble remains unresolved, like cats and dogs fighting over a lone bone; it is emblematic of the fractured intergovernmental relations stalling essential collaborations. Sound familiar? Where there’s friction, there’s bound to be a fire.
In the ring with the likes of ISIS and al-Shabaab, it’s paramount for the two governing bodies to strike the unified gong. After all, when these jihadis strike, they play a devilish tune that spares no one in Somalia, regardless of political facade or positional privilege. To them, spreading chaos is sport, indiscriminate and cruel, much like their mercenary nature. Doing anything but standing together would mean dancing to their dirge, and that ain’t a party anyone wants to attend.
As the dust settled post-abominable attack, the revelation was asinine: all twelve attackers hailed from far-off lands, themselves aliens to our soil. It bolstered what had been whispered by think tanks, including Crisis Group, over the past year—that Somalia had reemerged as a glaring nerve center for ISIS operations in the African theatre. How had we come to wear such a ghastly cloak?
Fragile institutions and neglected governance have, it appears, beckoned the terror entrepreneurs, threading lucrative networks and wrapping sinister extortion rings, right under the budding reach of fleeting authority. If we pass the buck, the buck won’t just stop here—it’ll snowball into a catastrophe. Once again, it’ll be Somalia singin’ the blues as terror’s billboard showcase.
Today, triumphant headlines should have us boasting about debt release, talking of arms embargoes lifted, and boasting our seat among the UN Security Council as a non-permanent participant. We count our steps as a bona fide member of the East African Community. Standing to gain now more than ever from collective progress, letting ISIS fester and flourish would swipe achievements clean off our slate.
The horn of the solution calls for an attitude shift by federal hands, a pivot from squabbling to securing— bifurcating the inconsequential political carping from the country’s vital security mandates. Race to mend ties could become the crucible that redefines Somalia’s stance on the extremist stratum while we smoothen relations through mutual dialogue, ramping then towards a cohesive blueprint.
The flip side? Ignore the writing on the wall and watch Somalia sink back into the abyss it’s fought the long war to climb from, casting ripples that’ll undo peace not just here, but beyond our periphery. Who wants to become the region’s burden again?
Leaders must find the middle ground first. Hugs and handshakes today could spare further heartbreak tomorrow. After clearing the literal air, focus can fall squarely on quelling burgeoning threats like ISIS, without losing sight of the infamous, elusive al-Shabaab specter lingering in Somalia’s southern leg. Decency demands shoring up against dual threats, lest they burst forth and make Somalia the world’s wild west.
Reported by Axadle
