WHEN IT IS TIME TO STAND UNITED AND DEFEND THE NATION

WDM EDITORIAL

Press reports indicate that Puntland Government opposition, though small and disorganised, is now mostly united to support the administration campaigns against ISIS hiding in eastern mountains of the state. Apparently, such a call for the defence of motherland doesn’t apply to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his small like-minded henchmen of Dambul-Jadid Clique.  It looks like this group has other priorities and isn’t interested in unifying the country for either nation-building nor defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.  Defending the country from domestic and foreign enemies is a constitutional mandate and national defence obligation of every citizen. Why does one seek public office if they don’t have basic understanding of the rights and obligations of a citizen? It is incredible, to say the least.

Foreign powers monitoring the jihadist movements worldwide, and people here weren’t surprised to learn that foreign fighters from multiple foreign countries of origin were among the dead in battling with Puntland State forces the other day. Residents in South-Central Somalia are alarmed by the news of the death of foreign jihadists in Puntland State. Now, imagine Houthis of Yemen nearby joining in the fight, too. 

However, we need to see the bigger picture of this Puntland State fight against ISIS – this fight is about the struggles of the Somali people against foreign terrorists, for what is good for Puntland State is good for all Somalis. President Mohamud and his Mogadishu clique should join the fight in good faith and take cues from Puntland State experience.