Doolow, Somalia: A Tapestry of Tension and Hope

In the southern reaches of Somalia, a gripping narrative unfolds—a story of resilience, tension, and intrigue. Here in Doolow, a town perched on the edge of the Somalia-Ethiopia border, the district commissioner, Mohamed Hussein Abdi, or as many know him, “Lafey,” faces challenges that echo far beyond the town limits.

Commissioner Lafey, in an illuminating conversation with Kaab TV, expressed his concerns about the Somali Federal Government’s role in the region’s growing instability. His words were both a warning and a call to action. The federal government’s actions are creating instability and similar risks in the once-peaceful enclaves like Doolow, he lamented.

Doolow’s geographic position makes it a critical hub, a lifeline for humanitarian operations in the region, hosting numerous UN agencies. As of April 2024, it was home to over 20,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), based on data from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Thousands more had found temporary refuge across the Ethiopian border in the Melkadida camp at Dollo Ado.

But what ignites such tension in a community that yearns for peace? The recent act of dismissing Doolow’s local security leadership by the federal government has stirred the pot. Those officials have now allied with Jubbaland state forces, setting the stage for a standoff that is as tense as it is unpredictable.

The ongoing political conflict between Jubbaland and the federal government is putting lives at risk, Lafey cautioned. The accusation: Mogadishu’s attempts to sever Gedo from Jubbaland’s control, crafting a separate administration. “Such moves,” he noted, “will only stoke the fires of conflict in the region.”

Doolow stands out in a region too often subject to turmoil—its claim to fame being the sole town in Gedo to have resisted the dominion of the militant group Al-Shabaab. Yet, it has not escaped unscathed from their brutal attacks.

Lafey spared no words regarding the ongoing threat. Al-Shabaab’s shadow looms large, especially in the more isolated areas, he remarked, pointing fingers at the federal government for leveraging insecurity, particularly in Garbaharey, Gedo’s capital. There is no real development for the citizens, leaving room for exploitation, he added.

Reflecting on the past, he recalled the federal military campaign in Raaskambooni, near the Kenyan border, just last year. An offensive that ended in retreat, with many federal troops captured or surrendering—a historical occurrence that resonates as perhaps the largest troop surrender in Somali history. Such bloodshed could have been avoided, he mourned. Lives of young Somalis were lost, and no clear victor emerged from the ashes.

Amid these turbulent times, Commissioner Lafey’s message is one of peace and unity: urging Mogadishu’s leadership to invest in dialogue rather than division. Continued meddling in Gedo’s affairs might only pave the way for extremists to gain power, unraveling the delicate stability we strive for, he warned.

These issues compel us to ponder—how can we, as part of a wider community, contribute to fostering peace in a region so critical to global humanitarian efforts? Can we learn from the echoes of past mistakes to forge a future grounded in cooperation?

In sum, the weight of Doolow’s challenges is felt acutely by its people. Yet as daunting as the road ahead might seem, there is an unyielding spirit that speaks to the resilience and hope of its inhabitants.