Somaliland:The PSS Rebels’ Clan-War Industry

Just as the religious warlords in Mogadishu, Somalia, receive millions of dollars yearly in the name of “defending” Islam, in the Buhodle town of Togdheer province, in Somaliland, an Al-Shabab-affiliated group, named PSS (SSC/NSUM) finds a clever way of milking the Diaspora communities from that area for lots of money. The rebel leaders and their close associates reap millions of dollars from gullible Diasporas, in the name of “protecting” the local clans in Buhodle areas, of course, from an imaginary enemy. But there is one hitch: for decades, the locals enjoy peace without the PSS’ “protection”, but as soon as the PSS leaders arrive in Buhodle area, they transform it into a battleground and establish a lucrative business—the clan-war industry, where every bullet fired, and each young- nomad-man’s death means more money from the Diaspora communities.

For starters, the town of Buhodle escaped from the violence that pulverized Somaliland to dust, in late ‘80s. Furthermore, the town remained peaceful for another two decades. But in October 2009, as the PSS (SSC/NSUM) violent group was groomed in Nairobi, Kenya, the face of Buhodle changed, for worse. As soon as the PSS rebels reached the area—what was once a peaceful little town witnessed one of the heaviest fights ever. Since Buhodle is a border town, it falls inside Somaliland and Ethiopia’s borders, the Ethiopian troops began investigating heavy gun eruptions in the Ethiopian section of the town. The gun eruptions were the results of the PSS rebels testing their latest weapons purchased with the hundreds of thousands of dollars collected from the Diaspora communities, the ever gullible, captive audiences, mainly living in Europe, North America, and Middle East. As predicted, the Ethiopian forces and the PSS rebels exchanged heavy fights. A dozen locals lost their lives. Over seventeen commercial trucks and their goods from Buhodle were confiscated by the Ethiopian security forces. The aftermath was a total devastation. Once a bustling little town turned into a ghost after the civilians fled in fear of more attacks from the Ethiopian forces. Admittedly, the Ethiopian response was brutal. But the PSS rebel’s strategy was suicidal, to say the least. Why use a peaceful town that escaped violence for decades as a lunch pad to attack Somaliland security forces and provoke the Ethiopian forces as well? This was the most dimwitted move that the PSS made. Congratulations!

Ever since then, the PSS leaders find fighting for their survivals much less dislodge Somaliland security forces from Buhodle area. Worse yet, the rebels bring constant death and destruction to Buhodle and its surroundings. The smell of death is everywhere. The PSS leaders know that they are no match for the Somaliland army, nonetheless; they campaign to raise millions of dollars for the war efforts. Not a month goes by that a PSS leader either Suleman Essa Ahmed (Hagal Tosiye), a Somali-American from Columbus, Ohio, or his right-hand man Garaad (a tribal chief) Jama Garad Ali doesn’t tour Europe, North America, or Middle East to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars for the war. Currently, Mr. Ahmed and Garad Jama Garad are both travelling overseas wooing the Diaspora communities to cough up more money—which guarantees only two things: more death and destruction.

Usually, Mr. Ahmed and Garad Jama Garad head home with bags of money. Upon their arrival back in Buhodle, most of the money is used to purchase ammunitions, mainly bullets for AK-47 guns and hand grenades, from Puntland and recruit more young men. But once the money evaporates and the Diasporas get disappointed with the results—the PSS’ inability to evict Somaliland security forces from that area—a new scheme is hatched: launching, poorly coordinated, preemptive strikes against the security forces. Provoking Somaliland security forces and more important: placing a wedge between the local clans turns out the new ace up the PSS leaders’ sleeves, the new money making deception. But once the local clans clash, the Somaliland security forces are compelled to respond. And it this intervention that the PSS leaders scream about that Somaliland troops, reputedly, siding with one clan over another, instead of separating the warring militias; therefore more money for weapons and ammunitions are needed from the Diaspora communities. Shortly after, the Diasporas’ phones start ringing and will remain stuck in a ringing mode until money reaches Buhodle. This clan-war business is played over and over again. Clearly, the results of any clashes between Somaliland troops and the PSS rebels are always predictable. In the aftermath, from the PSS’ side dozens of nomad boys are either dead or wounded, and few more dozens captured as prisoners are sent to Mandheera prison, near port Berbera in Somaliland. But still, money pours into the PSS’ leaders pockets.

But then audaciously, the clan chiefs (self-nominated politicians) in Buhodle area who, in the first place, not only fail to stop their young boys attacking the army but also cheer for them make an impassioned plea for the release of the prisoners afterwards, so they, of course, could join another battle against Somaliland, in the near future. We have seen this scenario repeatedly. Evidently, Somaliland recycles the same group of prisoners over and over again. Because once the prisoners are released, although they are reluctant to take arms against Somaliland again, the PSS leaders offer them hundreds of dollars, just as Al-Shabab leaders use money to recruit young boys, to carry out another attack. And it is these short-lived “financial gains” that lure these unemployed-young men to be captured as many times as there are months in year, before their either killed or wounded severely in the battlefields. And this money, which is slowly weeding out the cream of the crop, the young men from Buhodle area, comes from none other than the Diasporas.

The latest clashes in Kalshale areas were also predictable. In my last article entitled, “Somaliland: American Fugitive in Terror Watch List Seeks Military Cooperation with Eritrea”, I warned against the PSS’ diabolic traps to spur violence among local clans and then accuse Somaliland security forces of taking sides and ganging up against Buhodle clans. I wrote, “Remember, the second leader of the PSS/NUSM group, Col. Ali Sabarey, a Somali-Canadian, from Toronto, promised to incite clan wars in the past. In an interview with a local Somali radio, Col. Ali Sabarey stated, “We encourage the wider Darod clans of Somalia to fight against Somaliland.”…And as soon as Somaliland government realized the looming disaster in Buhodle area, the government deployed and stationed the security forces between the two warring clan militias.” As it seems to be, I spoke to soon. Just few days after my said article was published, two local clans clashed over the ownership of a grazing area near Kalshale. And the PSS rebels sought an opportunity in the fighting to receive more funding from the Diasporas. They fired bazookas at Somaliland security forces in order to provoke them. Clearly, the use of bazookas is not the hallmark of clan militia; but, the PSS rebels’. But Somaliland forces’ response was swift and devastating. Four militias lost their lives; four more, wounded; and a dozen men remained missing in action. Additionally, eighteen more militia were rounded up by the Somaliland security forces and held in Buroa, Somaliland’s second capital. What’s more, Somaliland troops dislodged the PSS rebels from their base in Hegaale area and chased them to retreat to their hide out, Buhodle town.

It is also worth noting that the local clans always clash and settle their differences on their own. They are not the problem. But now the PSS wants to take advantage of the situation and spur mindless clan violence, hoping to have: “…the wider Darod clans of Somalia to fight against Somaliland.” as Col. Sabarey, himself, states. The PSS leaders openly and repeatedly echo that other Somaliland clans invade Buhodle area to displace the locals. Now, when a young-nomad man is told that his grazing land is about to be taken over, he picks up the gun and doesn’t think twice. Bingo! This is what exactly the PSS leaders hoped for because the more young men willing to risky their lives to attack better equipped, highly trained and disciplined Somaliland’s security forces, the more money the Diasporas scoop out from their savings accounts. For every death means more money. This is the cruel reality of the clan-war business.

But what the Diasporas do not know is their hard-earned money: doesn’t build schools, or hospitals, or finance digging water wells. Instead, their money kills innocent people. Just as Al-Shabab bribes young boys in Mogadishu with hundreds of dollars and convinces them to attack the African security forces known as AMISON, so too, the PSS, Al-Shabab’s counterpart, provides cash to young-nomad men in Buhodle area and persuade them to attack Somaliland security forces. The remaining of the money is often looted. For instance, Col. Sabarey embezzles over $300, 000. Also, rumor has it that Mr. Ahmed builds a luxury house in Dubai, of course, with Diasporas’ money. And smartly enough, Col. Sabarey and Mr. Ahmed, keep their families in U.S. and Canada, far from the killing fields in Buhodle area.

In brief, the Diasporas should know that just as their boys need education, the young-nomad boys in Buhodle area too need education. So instead of arming them, why not educate them? None of the Diaspora communities are willing to send their cherished boys to the battlefields, so why sacrifice someone else’s son? Evidently, Mr. Ahmed and Col. Sabarey keep their sons out of harms way, deep in the hearts of U.S.A and Canada. Bravo, very smart indeed! Of course, anyone in his/her right mind would do the something.

As for the clan chiefs in Buhodle area, clearly you have failed your traditional duties of keeping peace; you have disappointed Somalis in general and Somaliland people in particular. And if mixing traditional duties with politics could transform you into celebrities overnight, take a lesson from southern Somalia’s clan chiefs who remain embroiled in politics. Abandon politics and siding with either Somaliland or Puntland, once and for all, and simply perform your traditional duties. Leave politics to politicians.

Also, the enormous cash flow from the Diasporas may come and go, but your people’s suffering will continue, if you don’t tackle the real pressing issues in your community, namely poverty, unemployment, and lack of education. Putting aside all emotional keen-jerks, you and I know the millions of dollars, so far, spent on undermining Somaliland security forces could have transformed your community into a prosperous one. But it is never too late to end the clan-war industry—that brought nothing but death and misery to your community, is it? Liberate your region from poverty, not a perceived enemy that hypothetically occupies your land. For the sake of peace, you cannot fail to heed Somaliland government’s calls for peaceful solution.

Dalmar Kaahin

dalmar_k@yahoo.com