Day: February 27, 2025

Two Fateful Nights That Forged Puntland: A Personal Account of Resilience and Unity

Introduction
In the turbulent aftermath of Somalia’s state collapse in 1991, the birth of Puntland in 1998 emerged as a beacon of hope for self-governance. This is the story of two pivotal nights that shaped its creation—a tale of leadership, clan diplomacy, and the tenacity of a people determined to carve stability from chaos. As a participant in these events, I recount how decisive moments in Addis Ababa and Bosaso altered the course of history.

Historical Context: Somalia’s Fragmentation and the Road to Puntland

Following the fall of Siad Barre’s regime, Somalia fractured into clan-based territories. The Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), a Majerteen-dominated movement, sought to reunite northeastern regions. Key figures like Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed (later Puntland’s first president) and Hassan Abshir Waraabe navigated a labyrinth of clan alliances and rivalries. Against this backdrop, the 1997 collapse of the Cairo Reconciliation Talks spurred leaders to pursue localized solutions, culminating in Puntland’s founding.

The First Fateful Night: The Garowe Consultative Congress

Addis Ababa, December 1997
In a cramped room at Ghion Hotel, a debate raged. A call from Islaan Mohamed Islaan Muuse urged attendance at a Harti Clan Conference in Garowe. While elders hesitated, fearing distraction from Ethiopian-based negotiations, I, the youngest present, argued passionately: “Mogadishu’s warlords rule not from exile but on the ground. We must go to Garowe.”

Outcome: The group journeyed to Garowe, where a Dhulbahante-led reconciliation between Abdullahi Yusuf and Mohamed Abdi Hashi dissolved tensions. Their clash—rooted in allegiances to Mogadishu’s warlords, Cali Mahdi and General Caydiid—was defused with humor and clan solidarity. This unity laid the groundwork for the Consultative Congress, Puntland’s first constitutional draft.

The Second Fateful Night: The Bosaso Fundraising Crisis

Bosaso, 1998
Weeks later, a new threat arose. The SSDF Executive Committee, wary of ceding power, sabotaged fundraising for the Constitutional Congress. Bosaso’s business community, pressured to withhold funds, left the project in jeopardy.

Leadership Tested: As Abdullahi Yusuf neared resignation, I confronted him: “Resign now, and we surrender to defeat.” Relenting, he rallied supporters. Through relentless outreach, we secured first 300 million Somali shillings—a lifeline handed to Islaan Mohamed in Garowe.

Significance: This victory over internal sabotage underscored the fragile coalition behind Puntland, balancing grassroots aspirations against political elites.

Themes and Legacy

  1. Decisive Leadership: Abdullahi Yusuf’s resolve, coupled with youth insistence on ground engagement, countered the inertia of exile politics.
  2. Clan Diplomacy: Personal grudges gave way to collective purpose, exemplified by the Dhulbahante mediation.
  3. Resource Mobilization: Overcoming SSDF resistance highlighted the role of local buy-in in state-building.

Reflections and Relevance Today

Puntland’s creation was no linear triumph but a mosaic of fraught negotiations. These two nights epitomize the interplay of agency and structure in rebuilding societies. As Somalia grapples with ongoing instability, Puntland’s lessons—of inclusivity, adaptability, and leadership—remain vital.

By Ismail H. Warsame
Participant in Puntland’s Founding, Former Chief of Staff to the Puntland Presidency
E-mail: ismailwarsame@gmail.com | Twitter: @ismailwarsame

THE WAR AGAINST ISIS IS NOT OVER YET

The completion of Puntland’s military operation against ISIS in the Cal-Miskaat mountains marks a critical juncture. To consolidate gains, prevent resurgence, and bring remaining leaders like Abdulkadir Mumin to justice, Puntland should adopt the following best practices, informed by counterterrorism strategies globally and regionally:

1. Secure Cleared Territories

  • Maintain a security footprint: Deploy forces to hold recaptured areas (bases, caves, villages) to deter ISIS reinfiltration. Establish checkpoints, patrols, and mobile units to monitor movement.
  • Leverage technology: Use drones, satellite imagery, and motion sensors to surveil remote mountain areas and coastal zones, where fleeing fighters might regroup.
  • Block escape routes: Coordinate with neighboring regions (e.g., Somaliland, Galmudug) and international partners (e.g., EU Naval Force, US AFRICOM) to enforce land, air, and maritime blockades.

2. Intelligence-Driven Manhunt for Leaders

  • Human intelligence (HUMINT): Engage local communities to gather tips on ISIS leaders’ whereabouts. Offer protected anonymity and incentives (e.g., rewards) for credible information.
  • Electronic surveillance: Monitor communication networks (e.g., phones, radios) used by ISIS remnants. Collaborate with international agencies (e.g., INTERPOL, CIA) to track financial flows or encrypted messaging.
  • Targeted raids: Use specialized units (e.g., PDF commandos) for precision strikes based on actionable intelligence to avoid civilian casualties.

3. Community Engagement and Reconciliation

  • Address grievances: Partner with clans, elders, and religious leaders to resolve local disputes (e.g., resource access, land rights) that ISIS exploited for recruitment.
  • Humanitarian aid: Provide immediate relief (food, medicine, shelter) to displaced civilians to build trust and counter ISIS propaganda about government neglect.
  • Counter-radicalization programs: Launch deradicalization initiatives for former ISIS recruits and their families, focusing on education, vocational training, and psychosocial support.

4. Strengthen Governance and Development

  • Restore services: Rebuild infrastructure (schools, hospitals, water sources) in liberated areas to demonstrate tangible benefits of government control.
  • Economic opportunities: Create jobs for youth through public works programs (e.g., road construction, agriculture) to reduce vulnerability to extremist recruitment.
  • Local governance: Appoint credible administrators (preferably locals) to manage recaptured zones, ensuring fair representation and accountability.

5. Regional and International Cooperation

Cross-border collaboration: Share intelligence with Ethiopia, Kenya, and Yemen to disrupt ISIS smuggling routes or safe havens.

International support: Seek funding and training from partners (e.g., UAE, UN) to build capacity in intelligence, logistics, and community policing.

6. Legal and Judicial Frameworks

  • Prosecute captured fighters: Establish transparent, fair trials for ISIS detainees to legitimize counterterrorism efforts and deter future recruitment. Use evidence from seized ISIS materials (documents, videos) to build cases.
  • Sanction facilitators: Work with the UN Security Council to impose travel bans and asset freezes on ISIS-linked individuals and businesses.

7. Counter-Ideological Campaigns

  • Religious outreach: Partner with moderate clerics to challenge ISIS’s extremist interpretations of Islam through mosque sermons, radio programs, and social media.
  • Media strategy: Publicize ISIS’s defeats (e.g., destroyed bases, surrendered fighters) to undermine its image as an invincible “caliphate.”

8. Continuous Assessment and Adaptation

  • Monitor threats: Establish early-warning systems to detect ISIS attempts to regroup, such as small-scale attacks or propaganda resurgence.
  • Evaluate operations: Conduct after-action reviews to identify gaps (e.g., leadership evasion, civilian harm) and adjust tactics.

Key Risks to Mitigate

  • Civilian harm: Avoid heavy-handed tactics that alienate communities. Train PDF forces in international humanitarian law (IHL).
  • Over-reliance on militarization: Pair security operations with governance and development to address root causes of extremism.
  • Leadership vacuums: If Mumin is killed or captured, anticipate ISIS attempts to appoint successors. Preemptively target mid-level commanders.

Conclusion

The “best practice” approach combines security, governance, and community trust to transform short-term military gains into lasting stability. Neutralizing leaders like Mumin requires patience, precision, and partnerships, but Puntland’s success will ultimately depend on its ability to offer civilians a credible alternative to extremism.