Opposition party Waddani and Kaah political organization are working together to bring peace in the volatile regions of the Buhodle district and Qorilugud.
Political leaders from the Waddani and Kaah have in the recent past been playing a role in supporting a dialogue between the traditional elders from the Buhodle district and Qorilugud, contributing significantly to de-escalation efforts
Waddani is concerned about the recent heavy fighting which erupted on Friday between the armed groups from the Dhulbahante clan named SSC (Sool Sanaag & Cayn) and Habarje’lo clan by the name SSB (Sool Sanaag & Buhoodle) in the Qorilugud area near Buhodle District of the Togdheer region which resulted in dozens of deaths and numerous other casualties, leaving a profound impact on the community.
Howeve, since a team from Waddani party toured the region, the area has experienced an unexpected calm thanks to direct conversations between traditional elders and business leaders from both sides, who stepped in to intervene and halt the violence.
The cooperation and respect of these elders within their communities have proven instrumental in stopping the fighting.
Effort by the Waddani pary to reach out to King Mohamud Aw Osman aka Buurmadow (Black Mountain) who is very influential and from Habarje’lo clan has calmed the situation.
He is expected to join the traditional leaders and make positive impact in containing further violence.
However, the government is not happy with these efforts to bring peace to create instability during the electoral period and is expected to use the military to escalate the conflict, mainly with the intention to confuse the election which is has performed weaker than the opposition so far.
Political leaders from the Waddani and Kaah parties have played a crucial role in supporting a dialogue between the traditional elders from the Buhodle district and Qorilugud, contributing significantly to de-escalation efforts.
Through persistent negotiations and strategic interventions, these political figures push for the discussion channels to be open to prevent further conflict. The immediate outcome has been promising, as peace has held for two consecutive days, a notable reprieve after such intense fighting. However, groups from both sides are willing to escalate and start a fresh conflict.
Further, the Somaliland government is accusing the Somali government and other terrorist groups of backing the SSC armed group which is a sign of escalation yet the government’s involvement in broader peace efforts has been minimal, while the traditional elders and opposition political leaders are carrying the burden of restoring peace and de-escalation.
There are also curious events within government especially the replacement of Somaliland Qorilugud military base commander from Col. Qasaali to another colonel who is the nephew of interior Minister Kahin. According to military sources, Kahin was not happy with how Col. Qasali handled the war in the region, as he welcomed and listened to traditional elders who have called for de-escalation.
Impact on Elections
Importantly, these recent clashes are not expected to affect the upcoming elections. Habarje’lo traditional elders who flooded into the conflict area have called for the elections to proceed without being influenced by the recent fighting. The polling station in Qorilugud, a key location for voters in the area, remains operational. Voters are encouraged to participate as planned, demonstrating resilience in adversity. “We need to vote on one hand and defend ourselves with the other”, said the top traditional leader of Habarje’lo, Suldan Mohamud Guled in Qorilugud yesterday in a meeting with local communities. “Today, the voting is even more important than the bullet, because it decides the direction of the country , he added.
Rumors have emerged, suggesting that the government might extend the conflict into other, currently peaceful areas, particularly opposition strongholds such as Erigavo District.
Nevertheless, traditional leaders and opposition parties are taking preemptive actions to prevent any new escalation that might threaten the election timeline.
The situation in Qorilugud highlights the crucial role of local elders and political leaders in fostering stability, mainly as the government’s peace initiatives appear limited. Their leadership has been a significant factor in containing the recent violence and promoting an atmosphere conducive to the upcoming elections. As election day approaches, with 11 days remaining, continuous monitoring and support from local stakeholders are essential to maintaining this peace. There are also international observers present inside Somaliland who have the leverage to streamline peaceful and credible elections thrl1qqough advocacy.
