Somaliland: Is It SSC Or PSS-Demystifying Common Deceptions

Somaliland: Is It SSC Or PSS-Demystifying Common Deceptions

Throughout history, the art of misleading the public takes differentshapes and  approaches but rarely disinformation introduces new tactics. People keep  recycling old stale lies. Now, in the Somali world creating new regions out of  thin air, hijacking the wishes of the silent majority, and suffocating them with  an oversized pillow is the name of the game. That is, the more regions that a  warlord claims to have under his thumb, the more bargaining chips on his table. 

And the democratic republic of Somaliland now battles against a violent group  named SSC led by an American and a Canadian warmongers who want to use the "SSC"  region as a bargaining chip. But is it really SSC or PSS?
 
What is SSC? You may ask. SSC supposedly stands for Sool, Sanag, and "Cayn"  regions in Somaliland. But Somaliland has six regions and Cayn is not one of  them. Somaliland territory comprises: Awdal, Hargeisa, Sahil, Togdheer, Sool,  and Sanag regions. So where does Cayn comefrom? This is a mysterious region that  is found neither in Somaliland's map nor in former Somalia's.
 
Demystifying the Cayn region, however, requires little efforts. Cayn region was  created by none other than the former Puntland leader, Col. Abdullahi Yussuf.  Col. Yussuf, a master of deception and clan manipulation, first echoed the  creation of Harti Kingdom (Harti: Majerten, Warsangeli, and Dhulbahante). 

Second, he laid claims to parts of Somaliland where Dhulbahante and Warsangeli  tribes inhabit. That is, parts of Sool and Sanag regions. He then, created a new  region called Cayn and convinced Dhulbahante tribes that they now control more  regions and resources than ever before.
 
But, like anything else, the Harti Kingdom ran its course: that is, Warsangali  and Dhulbahante tribes not only fought against Puntland (dominated by Majerten),  but also some of them switched allegiances to Somaliland. However, some  Dhulbahante tribes that inhabit the mystery region of Cayn insisted on keeping  its legitimacy as a province in order to get support either from the Somaliland  government or from the International community.
 
Now, lets' shed some light on Sool region; the majority of the region is  inhabited by Dhulbahante tribes. But a large chunk of it including the second  capital, Caynabo, is also settled by non-Dhulbahante tribes, namely Isaaq,  Fiqishini and others who are all pro-Somaliland. That is not to say that all  Dhulbahant tribes oppose Somaliland either. In fact, without the support of some 
of the Dhulbahante tribes that remain loyal to Somaliland, the government could  have never maintained law and order in the province. 
 
Dhulbahante tribes also settled in parts of Sanag region. Additionally, Sanag is  home to both Isaaq and Warsangali tribes. The capital of Sanag, Erigabo, which  is of course under Somaliland government's control, boasts its multi-tribe 
residents and remains a testimonial to Somaliland tribes' willingness to  co-exist peacefully.
 
It is now clear beyond a shadow of doubt that the Dhulbahante tribes inhabit  parts of Sool, Sanag, and the town of Buhodle in Togdheer region. Now, Buhodle  is supposedly the capital of the mysterious region of Cayn. On the other hand, 
Warsangli tribes exclusively settle in the eastern parts of Sanag region. So  what is SSC? Who does it represent?
 
The truth is there is no such a thing called: Sool, Sanag, and Cayn (SSC)  regions; but there is Sool and Sanag. And Dhulbahant tribes live in Parts of  Sool and Sanag PSS. So in reality the true name should be PSS, not SSC. 
Additionally, PSS claims to represent Dhulbahante tribes who oppose Somaliland's independence. But neither all Dhulbahante tribe oppose Somaliland nor support  PSS' bloodshed approach to tackle issues. Then, who is behind the violent PSS  group? Read more about the PSS' violent campaigns against peaceful Somaliland: 
http://www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/4458
 
The PSS was groomed in Nairobi, Kenya, in October 2009 for the purpose of waging  a deadly war against Somaliland security force in PSS regions. It is led by  Suleman Essa Ahmed (Hagal tosiye), an American from Columbus, Ohio, and Col. Ali  Sabarey, a Canadian from Toronto. Militarily, the PSS group secretly aligns  itself with Alshabab and openly deals with the Somali regime. For financial  support, the PSS solely depends on the Diaspora communities that hail from the 
PSS areas. 

 
Some of the Diaspora communities remain ignorant about the reality on the ground  and are still locked up in a hostile eggshell—the same hostility that drove them  from their land two decades ago. Evidently, some Diasporas instead of sending  money back home to rebuild schools and hospitals send grim warnings and their  desire to incinerate some Somaliland tribes.
 
In his poem, one of the bloodthirsty Diaspora members states, "Waayahan maan  dagaalamin…Laas Caanood waxaan geynayaa guuto xoog badane, Iidoor intaanan ku  gubin maad iskaga guurtid…or I haven't fought for a while….I will deploy a 
strong brigade to Las Annod, so why don't Isaaq tribes leave [the city] before I 
engulf them with fire." Listen to the poem here: http://tinyurl.com/38bfla9
 
But is it really the "Idoors" (Isaaqs) that are occupying Las Annod, the  provincial capital of Sool region? In October 2010, while in Somaliland, I made  a daring trip to Las Annod to see it for myself who is in charge of the city and  its environs. I also visited Buhodle town. Half way through my trip, as  apprehensive as ever, I whispered to myself, "Ever heard the saying: curiosity  killed the cat? Maybe the cat has already travelled too far…", nonetheless; I  continued my journey and arrived Las Annod without a hitch. To my dismay, I  couldn't find a single "Idoor" occupying the city. Instead, I came across  Somaliland troops, police forces, and politicians who all hail from Dhulbahante  tribes. 

After staying in Las Annod for a couple of nights and feeling as  comfortable as I felt in Burao, in Togdheer province where I lived, jokingly, I  asked an elderly man, "Why don't you kick out those "Idoors" occupying your  land, sir?" As dumbfounded as he was, he asked me, "Where are they?" I cringed  and shrugged my shoulders and responded, "I don't know but I heard that Idoors  not only occupy Dhulbahante land but also commit horrendous atrocities against  the locals." Laughing hysterically, he asked me one question that ended my silly  conversation. He said, "If that was the case, do you think you would be sitting 
here today?"
 
Similarly, on my way to Buhodle we passed through a number of Dhulbahante  villages. And I could not find the bloody "Iidoors", so evasive they are,  knowing that I was on my way, they perhaps disappeared into the jungle. (But no 
worries, I will catch the son of guns next time!) Again, to my disappointment,  all I found was security forces who hail from the area.
 
Meanwhile, despite the PSS' violent campaigns, the new Somaliland President,  Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Silanyo vowed to reach out the population in PSS areas and  address their grievances. And shortly after he took office, he delivered his promise by sending a high-level delegations that included the Ministers of  Defense, Justice, Interior, and the second speaker of the parliament and others  politicians to the region. 

Shortly, a well-organized peace conference was held in Widh Widh village where the local tribes agreed to lay down their weapons and  cooperate with the government. Somaliland, on its part, agreed to compensate the  families of those who lost their lives when the PSS rebels attack Somaliland  troops in Widh Widh area. Somaliland also agreed to pay all damages inflicted on  Widh Widh village. This is the first time in the history of all the Somali  societies that a government agreed to pay compensations. Indeed, Somaliland 
instills pride in its people.  
  
But while Mr. Silanyo is determined to reach out every group and diffuse  hostilities, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya are gearing up to arm the PSS rebels.  And concerned Somali officials warned against the growing relationship between 
Alshabab and PSS. Read my upcoming article entitled, "Somalia, Ethiopia, and  Kenya Welcome Violent Rebels against Somaliland".
 
To sum up, to avoid obscuring the facts on the ground, the Media should adopt  the use of the acronym PSS instead of SSC because PSS gives the true picture.  Distorting the situation in PSS regions and pouring thousands of dollars into the region, not for rebuilding schools and hospitals, but for waging a ware  against the security forces will inevitably transform the region into the new  Mogadishu of Somaliland.

 The Diaspora communities instead of sending money to 
engulf the region, they should visit it and see it for themselves that the  resources wasted on wars could have developed their region's economy. The locals  need schools, hospitals, and clean water, not wars and destructions.
 
Historically, geographically, and culturally the inhabitants of PSS regions  share more in common with the rest of Somaliland people than they do with  Somalia's.
 
But Col. Abdullahi Yussuf's failed tribal kingdom, Somali regimes desire to  break Somaliland into feuding clans, power-hungry individuals and naïve Diaspora  communities from PSS regions, have transformed the area into a battle ground. 
 
Luckily, the new Somaliland President, Mr. Silanyo's efforts to reach out  disgruntle locals and the International community's refusal to segment  Somaliland territory could, finally, bring a lasting peace into the PSS region.
 

Dalmar Kaahin
dalmar_k@yahoo.com