By Nassir Hussein Kahin
In a shocking turn of events, the massacre in Da’awalley, Somali Region State, Ethiopia, has unleashed a storm of fury and indignation in Somaliland. The brutal killing of ethnic Isaaq civilians by Ethiopia’s Liyuu Police has shattered the fragile trust between the two nations, forcing Somaliland to reconsider its historic alliance with its neighbor.
For decades, Somaliland and Ethiopia maintained a pragmatic relationship—bound by mutual strategic interests and cemented by Somaliland’s provision of access to the coveted port of Berbera. But that partnership now hangs by a thread, tarnished by Ethiopia’s apparent indifference to the suffering of Somaliland’s ethnic kinsmen and its unabashed pursuit of self-serving regional ambitions.
A Legacy of Blood and Betrayal
The Da’awalley massacre is not an isolated incident. It follows years of unchecked violence and systemic oppression targeting the Isaaq communities in Ethiopia. Somalilanders still bear the scars of the 2016 Gaashamo massacre, a grim reminder of Ethiopia’s repeated failure to protect ethnic minorities within its borders.
Ethiopia’s federal government has turned a blind eye, allowing its paramilitary Liyuu Police to act with impunity. The killings, displacement, and terror inflicted on the Isaaq people reveal a glaring disregard for basic human rights, laying bare Ethiopia’s inability—or unwillingness—to uphold justice.
The Strain of Strategic Overreach
Adding insult to injury, Ethiopia’s recent maneuvers on the geopolitical chessboard have raised eyebrows in Hargeisa. Its overtures to Turkiya and Somalia under the Ankara Agreement, coupled with its historical claims over Red Sea access, have stoked fears that Ethiopia is prioritizing its own interests at Somaliland’s expense.
In a move that many Somalilanders view as a betrayal, Ethiopia’s flirtation with Somali interests threatens to undermine Somaliland’s decades-long quest for international recognition. Despite signing a memorandum of understanding earlier this year, which granted Ethiopia critical access to Somaliland’s coastline, Ethiopia’s actions suggest it remains unwilling to treat Somaliland as an equal partner.
A Reckoning for Somaliland
The massacre at Da’awalley has sparked an urgent call for action in Somaliland. Leaders and citizens alike are demanding a recalibration of relations with Ethiopia—one that prioritizes respect, accountability, and equality.
“The days of unchecked violence and impunity are over,” declared a government spokesperson in Hargeisa. “Ethiopia must choose: Will it honor its commitments and respect our sovereignty, or will it risk losing a vital ally in the region?”
To that end, Somaliland is currently considering several decisive measures:
- Withholding Strategic Access: Ethiopia’s access to Berbera and other facilities will be suspended until it demonstrates concrete efforts to address the ethnic Isaaq human rights crisis and support Somaliland’s sovereign aspirations.
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Community Defense Initiatives: Somaliland will back the formation of community-led defense forces in Ethiopia’s Somali Region to protect vulnerable populations from further aggression.
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Advocacy for Accountability: Somaliland is calling on Ethiopia to dismantle the tribal militias masquerading as Liyuu Police, bring the perpetrators of violence to justice, and implement meaningful security reforms.
A New Chapter for Somaliland
The events of Da’awalley have set Somaliland on a bold new path. No longer content to be seen as a junior partner in its relationship with Ethiopia, Somaliland is leveraging its strategic importance to demand respect and recognition.
For the international community, the message is clear: Somaliland’s patience has limits. Its commitment to peace and stability remains unshaken, but it will not hesitate to assert its strength when its sovereignty and people are under threat.
As Somaliland recalibrates its relations with Ethiopia, the world watches with bated breath. Will Ethiopia rise to the occasion and address the grievances of its ethnic minorities? Or will its strategic overreach drive a permanent wedge between these two historical allies?
For Somaliland, the stakes could not be higher. The massacre at Da’awalley has ignited a flame of resolve that will not be extinguished until justice, dignity, and equality are secured for its people.
