Northeastern State’s Struggle Against ISIS Amidst Federal Indifference

EDITORIAL | Imagine braving the fierce deserts and rugged mountains of Somalia for over a quarter of a century, without so much as a whisper of support from the federal heartland. This is not a wistful tale spun from fiction, but the stark reality faced by Northeastern State, a resilient federal state. Since the ominous emergence of Al-Shabaab and ISIS amidst the rocky enclaves of Calmadow and Cal-Miskaad, Northeastern State has stood resolute, its forces confronting terror head-on, while Mogadishu watches silently. Is it not bewildering that the central government of Somalia, with all its might, has been conspicuously absent in offering even the faintest hint of solidarity or support?

Set against a backdrop of over 1,600 kilometers of coastline, Northeastern State rests at the Horn of Africa—an essential juncture where global trade echoes most urgently. With such immense geographical and strategic significance, one might expect a chorus of gratitude to chorus from Mogadishu for the relentless courage shown by Northeastern State’s warriors. Alas, instead of accolades, what we find is a federal government poised to seize glory, a government all too eager to eclipse the remarkable feats achieved on the battlefield by Northeastern State’s undaunted soldiers.

For the people of Northeastern State, this war against extremism is both personal and unyielding. It’s a narrative carved out not just with weaponry, but with sacrifice and blood. As soldiers navigated treacherous terrains to dismantle terror sanctuaries, the echoes of their valiant efforts reached far beyond their borders. Yet, amid this harrowing saga, the federal leaders in the distant corridors of power have neither dispatched reinforcements nor offered heartfelt salutes. But when accolades began to pour in, recognizing the unforgiving assault on ISIS, Mogadishu shamelessly thrust itself into the limelight, deigning to claim accolades unearned by its own hand.

A Sudden Shift in Narrative

How does Villa Somalia reconcile its sudden claim of authorizing U.S. airstrikes in Cal-Miskaad? Is this a disingenuous attempt to marginalize Northeastern State’s steadfast presence in the anti-terror narrative, a means to redraft history to its own liking? Or, dare we ponder, is it a reflection of a deeper exclusion that Northeastern State might feel—like an unclaimed sibling left to its devices?

According to international law, Northeastern State retains its position within Somalia. Yet, reality sketches a starkly different picture: a solitary defender, lacking uniforms, ammunition, and recompense from Mogadishu. Astonishingly, in the wake of a momentous victory against ISIS, Somalia’s leaders scramble to bask in reflected glory, a spectacle of gall that rings hollow.

Consider the irony when Somalia’s own state-run agency proclaims via a carefully crafted narrative by its Information Minister. In it, a fairytale of triumph over terrorism unfolds, suggesting the dawning of peace across the land. But it begs contemplation: what has become of the war against Al-Shabaab haunting the hearts of central and southern Somalia?

Despite significant investments from the international community, Al-Shabaab’s prominence persists, shadowing regions agonizingly close to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s origins. Here stands Northeastern State, devoid of such financial lifelines, having cast ISIS from its mountainous bastions.

Northeastern State’s Independence in the Fight Against Terrorism

In truth, the victory in Cal-Miskaad records a chapter of an unmistakable Somali triumph, yet it is a page Mogadishu cannot rightly turn in its favor. Northeastern State has not disavowed its ties to Somalia, but it refuses submission to Villa Somalia’s exploitative refrain. The leaders of Northeastern State, embodying their people’s tenacity, will not conspire with a government that turns a blind eye to its own people’s struggle while attempting to commandeer the laurels of their arduous success.

Recognizing and valuing Northeastern State’s endeavors is long overdue. Villa Somalia must relinquish its opportunistic posturing, and truly embrace the notion that Northeastern State is not a mere backwater to be plundered for acclaim. If the federal government is sincere about joining the fight against terrorism, it must firstly attend to the vast expanse still overshadowed by Al-Shabaab, rather than deceitfully parading ownership of triumphs achieved by Northeastern State’s valiant hearts.

The battle waged by Northeastern State against ISIS is nearly biblical in its courage and purity. It is an authentic struggle, devoid of pretense. In stark contrast, Mogadishu’s leadership remains a specter of opportunism, absent when the toil is hardest, only to emerge when the reward is ripe. This blatant manipulation of the narrative calls for criticism, and Northeastern State’s rightful role in the annals of Somalia’s anti-terror crusade must finally be illuminated.

Axadle Editorial Board: This editorial is a reflection of the Axadle Editorial Board’s position, grounded in factual insights on Northeastern State’s and Somalia’s dynamic.

Report By Ali Musa Axadle Times international–Monitoring