Why Somalia is About to Split Into Three States

Recent constitutional changes threaten to split Somalia once more, as Puntland announced that it no longer recognises the government's authority. So in this video, we'll explain what's happened, why the change is controversial and what might happen next.

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CORRECTION: As a number of commenters have pointed it, it's not quite right to say (as we do at 1:20) that Somalia is split into ethnic groups. Somalia is actually pretty ethnically homogenous, and the relevant divide here is between the various clans in the country, who don't always get along. Apologies, and thank you to those of you who pointed this out - we hope you nonetheless enjoyed the video!

[davidioanhedges]

The Somali federal government is using the promise of stability to create a dictatorship... and Puntland and especially Somaliland already have stability so understandably are not fooled

[tigrignareadings-]

They are not different ethnic groups. They are all Somalis in ethnicity, but within this ethnicity, there are different clans and tribes.

[bababababababa]

You’re acting like Somalia hasn’t already split apart… it’s a free for all anarchy masquerading as a nation

[luishernandezblonde]

Somalia is basically a clannish state. It has one ethnic people, but dozens of clans with completely different aims. When you have a clannish system, you either heed to a power-sharing system, or either become a fragmented nation with its own destruction.

[dulio]

Ethiopia is probably cackling with glee right now.

[kacangajaib]

Somaliland be like; "Told you, its better going Solo now"

[omarahmed]

Tragic bit is if Puntland had elected for this route 30 years ago they would have been leaps ahead major factor holding them back was the association with paper state

[exposedclickbaitaRblx]

I hope Somalia actually lets down these regions and modernizes what they have left instead of fighting over desert.

[Ali-bulo]

1:17 The divisions in Somalia aren't from ethnic groups, they're from clans. Somalia is actually one the most homogeneous countries ethnic wise with 85% of the population being from Somali ethnicity and language.

[johnyoh]

the main reason our prime minister choose to recognize somalilands independence is to draw attention away from our ongoing "civil war". But motive aside i think somaliland should be independent if they want to do be so.

[davidbowie]

I think we should remember the same Mogadishu regime was responsible to a genocide back in 1980s against the Isaaq tribe, the tribe that rules Somaliland today. They never forget that tragedy.

[MrCalls]

1:22 You’re not starting off well. The people of Somalia aren’t split into ethnic groups, they’re split into clans. And this is kind of relevant because Somali is ethnically quite unified and the reason it’s in the state it is, is because it attempted to unify the Somali nation by conquering the edge of Ethiopia. The Important divisions in Somalia are geographic and clan, not ethnic.

[SadikBoom]

it brings me to tears seeing my country like this and i cant do anything.

[kothar]

Couple mistake you make in the video, there is one major ethnic group in Somalia called the Somali(who share the same religion, language and culture) who are broken into tribal 4 major families/confederations(Dir, Darood, Isaaq and Hawiye) Puntland and SSC are primarily Darood while Somaliland is Dir and Isaaq.

[elroymatekwa]

It not correct to speak of somalia as ethnically diverse....98 percent of its inhabitants are ethnic somalis with a few other minorities that do not mumber more thatn 10 in number

[ThePanEthiopian]

I'm pretty sure people of Puntland don't want to leave Somalia

[jotarokujo]

Somalia is basically a case of a failed unification. Pretty similar to that of Yemen as Yemen's unification in 1990 has also been such a disaster.

[nufailanoon]

I want the Greater Somalia back. Somaliland back and parts of Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya back, is that ever possible 😢😢

[eldios]

Somalia is a strange country..largely homogenous but can fight each other justine because you come frome a different clan