Somaliland clashes displace thousands

WIDHWIDH, 23 July 2010 (IRIN) - Several thousand people in northern Somalia have been displaced in recent weeks by clashes between Somaliland troops and a new rebel group, according to local and UN sources.

The armed group is called Sool, Sanaag and Cayn (SSC) after the regions it hopes to "liberate" from the government of Somaliland, a northeastern region which unilaterally declared independence in 1991. No country formally recognizes Somaliland's statehood.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), 1,232 displaced households in the Buuhoodle and Widhwidh districts of the Sool region received a month's worth of oil and sorghum in June. WFP works on the basis of an average of six people per household. Insecurity prevented 468 targeted households from receiving the rations.

In an email to IRIN, WFP cited a local NGO report that an additional 334 households had been displaced more recently in the Kalabaid area of Sool.

One of those displaced, Hawa Hassan, told IRIN in the town of Widhwidh on 21 July: "We first ran away in early June when the war broke out and I brought my family back in July, but another war broke out a few days ago between the army and the region's militia."

Hawa said she fled with her family to Dhagah Dheer, 18km northwest of Widhwidh.

"We have been struggling to survive in a forested area but the heavy rains and the cold weather makes it difficult for us to endure," she said.

Saleebaan Warsame Guuleed, Somaliland's defence minister, said one soldier was killed and another injured in the latest clashes with SSC.

Elders in Widhwidh District said families started fleeing from 21 May to neighbouring villages such as Xidh-Xidh, Bali Cad, Geed Dheer, Balihadhac, Dhagah Dheer, Dabayl ma arke, Shululux, Qalanqale, Geed Xamarka, Dhilaalo, Horufadhi, Beeyaal and Laas-dhooble.

Cold climate

Abdillahi Awad, one of the elders, told IRIN: "Those displaced are living under difficult conditions because of the rains in the `Gu' season as well as the cold climate. In fact, malaria, diarrhoea and common colds have broken out in many of the places where these people fled to."

Awad said the displaced had received some aid but more was needed.

"They have only received some plastic shelter material from the local business community, and medicine from Las-anod hospital; food has been distributed by WFP," Awad said.

Ali Sabarey, the deputy leader of SSC, was quoted in some media reports as saying the group's "ultimate goal is to make this area peaceful and prosperous and also seek a united Somalia".

During campaigns ahead of 26 June presidential elections, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo, who won the poll, pledged to start negotiations with SSC.

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Ahmed Shide Jama, "It is as if no one knows we are here"

HARGEISA, 2 July 2010 (IRIN) - Ahmed Shide Jama, in his late 60s, is the leader of one of Somaliland's marginalized minority groups, the Gabooyo. He lives in the Daami area of Hargeisa, capital of the self-declared republic of Somaliland, with at least 8,000 other families (48,000 people).

Minority groups such as the Gabooyo experience discrimination, mostly for the work they do, such as shoemaking and iron-smelting. In Somaliland, most of the Gabooyo also work as barbers, a job no other clan will perform. Minority groups such as the Gabooyo are not allowed to marry into the larger Somali community or socially interact with them in any way, despite the fact that they are Somalis and Muslims.

Jama spoke to IRIN about the plight of his people:

"I am the leader of this community in Daami; there are at least 8,000 families here but no one knows or cares we are here. It is as if they [the majority Somaliland clans] don't see us or know we even exist.

"If one of our boys is foolish enough and marries a girl of the majority community, I can guarantee you that he will be killed and so will the girl who marries him.

"Imagine, we are all Somalis, Muslims and all God's children and should be treated equally. When you die your deeds will count, not your clan.

"For this entire community, there is not a single facility for mother-child healthcare. We had women who died in childbirth because we have no access to healthcare. As you can see, we have no money to go to private hospitals.

"It is [presidential] election time here in Somaliland [voting took place on 26 June] and only one party sent someone to lobby us to vote for their candidate. The others don't care because we are not an important clan.

"We have no representation in the Somaliland government or parliament. If we had representation, we could at least go and complain but who would listen to an old Gabooyo man? When you are not represented anywhere, it means you are not there.

"When the new government comes in, all I want is for it to first acknowledge that we are here and are a part of this country and that we are Somalis and we are Muslims.

"Please give us our rights. I hope whoever gets elected will do better and address our problems. It is a hope but I don't expect much to change."

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