August 25 will go down in the annals of Somali history as the day the forces of the division funded by the former colonial power were defeated. The Las Anod defense forces finally stormed the stronghold of Gooja’adde sheltering the secessionist forces of Somaliland who bombarded the besieged town on a daily basis for 7 months. In this piece, we will overview the fall of Gooja’adde and the victory SSC-Khatumo brought home.
Every cloud has a silver lining
In unison with the populations of the Sool and Sanaag regions, the Somali nation rejoiced in the victory of the SSC-Khatumo forces over the secessionists. Rallies to celebrate their success sprung out everywhere especially in Mogadishu, Kismayo, Abudwaaq, Galkayo, Bosaso and Garowe. In reality, the real celebration is taking place online, where congratulations and expressions of solidarity are exchanged endlessly.
Since December 2022, residents of Las Anod had forced secessionist forces to withdraw from their town after more than a hundred unsolved murders of local figures. Somaliland did so reluctantly after firing live ammunition at unarmed protesters.
The concentration of Somaliland armed militias around Las Anod is just a way to sow fear among the local population and perpetuate oppression.
The withdrawal of their forces thus enabled Las Anod to make sovereign decisions which led them, after 3 weeks of thoughtful deliberations, to choose the path of rejection of the division of Somalia and of liberation. A decision that earned them the hateful anger of the secessionists and to be drowned in a bath of blood and ashes for 7 months.
The current general jubilation is understandable considering the loss of life, the forced departure of hundreds of thousands of people and the extensive damage caused to Las Anod by the vengeful and indiscriminate bombings of Somaliland.
The ultimate battle
According to our sources and the SSC-Khatumo leadership report, the battle started around 4 a.m. and ended around 8 a.m. Like almost every day since February 6, Somaliland forces started by shelling Las Anod. Then these forces attempted to enter the city from the east and west.
It was then that the defense forces stationed around the city returned fire to repel the attackers as they have always done so far. But this time around, they didn’t stop there. They took the opportunity to pursue them and surround their base at Gooja’adde.
This all-out counter-offensive surprised the Somaliland forces, accustomed to not being pursued with the zeal shown this time by the SSC-Khatumo forces.
According to experts, SSC-Khatumo’s success is due to four facts. The first is that since the death of the poet Jama Kediye, killed last week by the bombardments of Somaliland forces on Las Anod, restructuring their forces and rethinking their strategy has become a priority for the elected officials of Las Anod.
The second thing that has contributed to defeating the secessionist forces is that since the appearance of the Gadhhajis clan militia, some Somaliland fighters from this clan have started to desert the front and join the militia whose base is in the Gacan-Libaax mountains.
Third, the long siege which did not yield tangible results on the ground and the political decisions taken in Hargeisa undermined morale and discipline of Somaliland fighters. At the first test, these forces crumbled. The resulting stampede even caused vehicle collisions.
However, we must not overlook the courage and determination of the inhabitants, who do not see themselves returning to 15 years of oppression.
Somaliland’s losses
Somaliland has lost a large part of its army sent to this eastern front. Thousands of fighters are suddenly off the radar. They were either dead, captured, injured, or unaccounted for.
SSC-Khatumo chairman Abdiqadir Fidhiye in his address tonight said he had 260 prisoners of war, 42 of whom are wounded. He added that the commander of these forces, Colonel Faysal Abdi Botan, is one of them. Even though, Botan is considered a war criminal, he has been treated well.
A large number of military equipment, some of which were received from Djibouti recently, have been abandoned. Military vehicles include transport trucks, tanks, armored all-terrain vehicles, technicals, multiple rocket launchers, supply tanker trucks, machine-guns, and much more.
In addition, more than the loss of life and equipment, it must be added that Somaliland has lost a vast territory. The SSC liberation forces continued their unstoppable push all the way to the town of Oog, 100 km from Las Anod.
The extent of the defeat is immeasurable for Somaliland. After claiming their legitimacy on the territory under British colonization, they saw their dream reduced to the territory of their clan and Awdal, the other no less unionist region landlocked between Hargeisa and Djibouti.
The day after
As soon as the announcement of the crushing defeat of its forces, Somaliland reacted by asserting that it was a strategic withdrawal. Faced with increasingly depressing news for public opinion, President Musa Bihi Abdi met with opposition leaders and decided with them to form a common front.
In their public speech, they raised the morale of their public who are beginning to doubt the ability of their authorities to manage this 32-year secession and of their army to defend them. Musa Bihi remained defiant, promising to regain lost ground and push the boundaries to realize the colonial legacy.
President Firdhiye, however, warned him not to continue hostilities and promised to disarm his militias once again. Many doubt that Musa Bihi would ever try to reconquer Las Anod as this defeat has heavily depleted his forces and weakened his position as President of Somaliland.
While elders and SSC-Khatumo leaders were advising against taking revenge on POWs or clans who helped the Somaliland occupation, the Red Crescent has been busy burying dead left on the battlefield and taking care of the wounded fighters.
Finally, this victory is the outcome of the longest siege in the history of Somalia. It also announces the beginning of a new chapter for the region. While some hope that the Blue Revolution to continue in other northern regions with the now victorious SSC-Khatumo leading the struggle, others believe the new regional state should start building an autonomous state and mending fences with the federal government leadership who has been on muted mode all along.
