By Ismail H. Warsame – Warsame Digital Media (WDM)
A Deal Without Dignity: The Laascaanood Mirage
When President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced his anticipated visit to Laascaanood, many believed it would mark a historical reconciliation — a long-awaited recognition of SSC-Khatumo’s legitimacy after months of heroic resistance against Somaliland’s occupation. Yet, as the political smoke cleared, it became apparent that the visit was reduced to nothing more than a conditional charade.
The Damul Jadiid–Aaran Jaan machinery inside Villa Somalia — skilled in deception and transactional politics — has shifted the goalposts. The President’s trip is now tied to an irrelevant precondition: the release of Somaliland’s prisoners of war. This cynical twist insults the sacrifices of SSC-Khatumo’s fallen heroes and mocks the aspirations of its people who fought not for Hargeisa’s comfort but for self-determination within the Somali Republic.
Hassan Sheikh’s message is unmistakable: Laascaanood must submit, not be recognized.
SSC-Khatumo’s Strategic Miscalculation
SSC-Khatumo’s leadership, especially under Firdhiye, a student of illusionary and hate politics of late Dr Ali Khalif Galaydh, made a fatal error in judgment. They mistook flattery from Mogadishu’s Damul Jadiid circle for political partnership and fell into a trap that Puntland’s veterans have long warned against — trusting a regime that operates through manipulation, not conviction.
Their anti-Puntland posture, driven by emotional bitterness rather than strategic foresight, left them vulnerable to the very predators they thought were allies. The irony is tragic: in trying to outsmart Garowe, they empowered Villa Somalia’s worst operators — those who see Laascaanood not as a constituency but as a bargaining chip in their clan-based chessboard.
Let’s be blunt: SSC-Khatumo’s struggle risks being reduced to a token gesture in Hassan Sheikh’s fake “federal unity” narrative. Instead of a respected federal member state, Khatumo is being treated as a pawn to placate Hargeisa, while Mogadishu pretends to mediate peace.
Three Cardinal Errors of Khatumo Leadership
1. Anti-Puntland Obsession Over Realpolitik
In rejecting Puntland as a natural ally, SSC leaders allowed personal animosities and historical grievances to override geopolitical logic. Puntland shares not only kinship and geography but a federalist philosophy — a common cause that could have fortified SSC’s position. Instead, Khatumo became an isolated island, adrift between a cynical Mogadishu and a hostile Hargeisa.
2. Misreading the Somali Political Ecosystem
Khatumo leaders failed to map the Somali political terrain. They overestimated their leverage in Mogadishu and underestimated the entrenched Damul Jadiid network that thrives on exploiting divisions. In the zero-sum politics of the capital, loyalty is bought and sold — not earned through shared ideals.
3. Absence of Strategic Clarity and Statesmanship
Without a clear long-term vision, Khatumo leadership oscillates between reactive moves and sentimental declarations. They confuse media visibility for political capital and mistake empty gestures from the presidency for genuine recognition. Leadership requires cold calculation, not emotional improvisation.
The Reality: Hassan Sheikh’s “Recognition” Was Never on the Table
Hassan Sheikh’s promise to recognize SSC-Khatumo was a political mirage — a tactical bluff meant to neutralize SSC’s military momentum against Somaliland while keeping Puntland contained. By turning his visit conditional on POW releases, he signaled that Mogadishu’s loyalty still lies in appeasing Hargeisa, not empowering Laascaanood.
This is not federalism — it is deception packaged as diplomacy.
This is not recognition — it is slow strangulation by bureaucratic delay.
The Way Forward: Strategic Recalibration
SSC-Khatumo must stop confusing emotional satisfaction with political success. Recognition cannot be begged; it must be earned and enforced through leverage, unity, and clarity of purpose. The path forward demands three immediate actions:
Reconciliation with Puntland: A return to pragmatic cooperation with Garowe will restore SSC’s negotiating power.
Diplomatic Offensive: Engage regional and international partners independently — not through Mogadishu’s filters.
Internal Consolidation: Build governance structures that function, proving capability beyond the battlefield.
Conclusion: Hassan Sheikh’s Game, Khatumo’s Choice
In Somali politics, weakness is punished and disunity exploited. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s ultimatum to Firdhiye is not about prisoners — it’s about power. Either SSC-Khatumo reclaims its agency by aligning with its natural allies, or it remains a convenient prop in Villa Somalia’s endless theatre of manipulation.
The choice is stark:
Stand tall with dignity — or kneel for a handshake that leads nowhere.
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WDM Editorial Note:
This essay is part of the ongoing “Somali Statehood and Betrayal” series by Ismail H. Warsame, documenting the moral, political, and strategic failures that shape contemporary Somali federalism.
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