SOMALILAND-PUNTLAND | A Somali Clan Conflict?

While international attention has been on Somalia's battle against Al-Shabaab, a severe conflict has emerged in the Horn of Africa between Somaliland and several clans that want to remain part of Somalia or join neighbouring Puntland. This has led to fighting around Las Anod (Laascaanood), the administrative city of the eastern province of Sool, which is seeking to establish its own breakaway administration: Khatumo State of Somalia. This has left hundreds dead and forced over two hundred thousand to flee. All this makes it a complex conflict as both sides see the other as a separatist group. But what exactly lies behind it?

While we think of secessionist conflicts as being fought between different ethnic, national or religious groups, sometimes issues arise between groups that come from the same background. The conflict between Somalia, Somaliland and Puntland is a case in point. While ethnic Somalis share a language, culture and religion, it is highly fragmented along clan lines. In the context of the current conflict this has seen the Isaaq, the most prominent clan in Somaliland, come into tensions with the Majeerteen, the dominant clan in Puntland, and the Dhulbahante and the Warsangeli, which are centred on eastern Somaliland - an area known as Sool, Sanaag and Cayn (SSC). All three are aligned to the Harti, a sub-clan of the Darod (Darood) clan - one of the five key Somalia clans. This has raised fears that the fighting around Lasanod may evolve into a far larger clan war. At the same time, it raises crucial questions about efforts to reach a final agreement on the status of Somaliland.

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*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:32 Identity and Secession: Somaliland and Somalis
01:33 The Somalis: Key Locations and the Clans
02:57 A Brief History of the Somali People
03:57 Somalia’s Collapse and the Emergence of Somaliland
05:53 The Emergence of Puntland State of Somalia
07:11 Somaliland, Puntland and Khatumo
08:50 The Fighting in Las Anod (Laascaanood)
10:10 A Somaliland-Puntland-Khatumo Conflict?

*SOURCES AND FURTHER READING*
Somaliland Constitution
Puntland Constitution
Overlapping Claims by Somaliland and Puntland: The Case of Sool and Sanaag
Averting War in Northern Somalia | Crisis Group
Khatumo Declaration 5 February 2023

*MY NEW BOOK!*
Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know

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*DISCLAIMERS*
- The contents of this video and any views expressed in it were not reviewed in advance nor determined by any outside persons or organisation.
- Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel and will be at no additional cost to you.

#Somaliland #Puntland #Somalia
#Khatumo #Lasanod #Lascanood

[JamesKerLindsay]

Although the severe fighting around Las Anod has received almost no international attention, this conflict is becoming a major crisis in the Horn of Africa. Already, it has seen hundreds killed and over 200, 000 people flee their homes. But it raises lots of tough questions. Should the contested area remain a part of Somaliland? Or should it be part of Somalia? And, if it is allowed to break away from Somaliland, should it do so as Khatumo State, or should it be incorporated into Puntland? Do let me know your thoughts and comments below.

[kerekse]

The last sentence is deeply painful and still tells the true situation of Somalis people, at the same time: ''Sometimes, communities otherwise united by a single language, culture, and religion can still wish to be apart.''

[SamGedi]

Very balanced assessment 👏. Very complex issue .
One point I would add is the fact that tribal element is at the heart of why the doolbahante of Darod clan don't want to be part of somaliland, there is a deep sense of suspicions and hatred between Issack (main clan in somaliland) and Darod.
Another point is that fact that somali sociaty as a whole is highly equalitarian would not accept easily an authority from a different clan or even sub-clan.
Often, authorities struggle to strike right that delicate balance between clan based tribalism and attempt to bring democracy. Everywhere in somalia including djibouti democracy is a thin layer on top of a very complex clans structure.

[mohameda]

This is on point, I have never seen a non Somali owned documentary or media be so well informed in the current conflict.

[Dreamchasermycade]

As some one from the region I was really impressed by your deep and extensive knowledge of the dynamics and history of this conflict, your unbiased Attitude is also something I was not expecting . You are an excellent professor .

[Greater_Somalia]

What a shame all this is happening in the month of Ramadan, Subhanallah. May god have mercy on the Somali people and help them unite InshaAllah. ☝🏾🇸🇴✊🏾

[freepalestinea]

Somaliland did not exist before British colonial time. The colonial powers divided Somalia into many parts. After the independence Somalia unified again under one flag - the blue flag with the white star in the middle. A clan which is majority in Somaliland decided to break away from Somalia, even though Somalia was always one country. However, there are other clans who want to stay in Somalia. Now the bigger clan in Somaliland wants to force the rest of Somali clans in Somaliland to live under their rule even though they never voted to be part of Somaliland. Dhulbahante clan doesn't want to be part of Somaliland, but the Somaliland regime wants to force them to stay under their rule. That is what is driving the conflict in short.

[SomalianGangstaLyfe]

Puntland was built by all Harti clans which is something you missed. Puntland in its current day is a MJ stronghold but was built by all Harti clans.

[yussufomar]

Yes the problem is Issaq or Iidoor clan, they want to free from Somali but other clans want to be free from Somali land so Iidoor clan can not force other clans to stay with Somali land

[mahadwawenka]

As a Somali I am highly impressed about your research in this topic and how you even know the names of every clan in somalia. Highly informative and well explained the truth about the fighting in las'anod region. Thank you for showing the world the least known event going on in every corner of the world .

[dahabilyrics]

LAASCAANOOD IS KHAATUMO STATE OF SOMALIA IT'S HAS THEIR OWN FALAG 🇸🇴🐎🇸🇴🐎🇸🇴THANK YOU

[MrSandyBruce]

Damn this actually made me sad. As complex as this issue is any suggestion to bring peace would sound like "I can wave a magic wand." Feel bad for the people that just want to live. Prosper and raise a family in peace. As always outstanding job of explaining a really really tough topic.

[adamsacad]

Great research. Appreciate how you elaborated the Las'anod issue.

[abdishakurabdi]

Hallo Prof James, I'm from Laas'aanod Somalia.
I am highly impressed about the research you have well research. as a people of las'anod we don't want to be a Part of Somaliland, we are a Part of Somalia, and that's the main issue of the confilct as you already said.

Thank you.

[kth]

I consider my self reasonably informed about global conflicts but didn't even know this conflict existed. 😅
Thank you professor.

[bowsi]

I have subscribed I do believe your channel deserves much more audience

[catalinmarius]

I've heard this story in multiple other countries, the clan system is one of the major causes of corruption in Africa. How can people be loyal to a nation if they are loyal to their clan first? To compare it to Romania, the Romanians have 3 sub-divisions: Transylvanians (West), Wallachians (South) and Moldavians (East). And then there are sub-divisions like Wallachians being Muntenians & Oltenians & Dobrujans, Moldavians being West Moldavians & Bukovinians & Bessarabians. BUT, every Romanian sees their sub-group as a sub-division of Romanian. They are Romanian first, and THEN Wallachian or Muntenian or whatever. Like the states in USA, a Californian is still an American, he is first and American, then a Californian. This is not the case in Africa.

[AlexLee-dcvb]

It's hilarious how much the time of this video's release is saving me - I need to give a presentation about Somalia on Tuesday. This was useful information. Good work as always, Professor

[abdinasirhassan]

Prof James, thank you for covering this complex conflict. I’m from SSC region in Northern Somalia. I watched this video 2 times. I found 1 mistakes and 1 false assumption that I like to point out. 1st is “isaaq is majority of Somaliland, which is not true. If you we to compare isaaq vs the rest of somaliland clans, they would constitute 50% at max. Second point I like emphasize on the assumption that if somaliland was recognized already, all this programs would have been illuminated, which is far from the truth. From the beginning isaaq clan has been trying to dominate while SSC region has been resisting that unlawful domination. I love your work, but I’m seeing a biased stance, I don’t know if it’s intentional or you have been miss-informed. I believe if somaliland was to be recognized as it is, the conflict would be much broader and worse. The succession is only wanted by the isaaq clan which occupies 40% of somaliland and constitutes % 50% at best. So 50% of somaliland inhabitants don’t want to succeed from the rest, this is what conflict is truly about. The rest is an addition to that base problem.

[aminali]

The people of lassdanood City have been attacked with big mortars large-calibre artillery. Were the schools Hospitals residential areas has been destroyed missiles were striking hospitals including mosques during live broadcasting on the social media platform. The sool region populations are not affiliate militias or terrorist groups.