By Jama Ayaanle Feyte
Journalist, Horn of Africa Security Expert and Political Analyst
HARGEISA – A renewed and robust diplomatic campaign is currently gaining momentum across the Sanaag region, as senior Somaliland officials spearhead a determined effort to salvage and implement the embattled peace initiative for the strategic city of Erigavo. The push comes after the initial groundwork laid by President Abdirahman Cirro met with mixed results, leaving the region in a fragile state of suspended anticipation.
The original peace overture, unveiled by President Irro, was designed as a comprehensive reconciliation framework intended to bridge long-standing communal divides among the clans of Erigavo and the broader Sanaag territory. In its early stages, the initiative secured a significant breakthrough when the Warsangeli clan extended their formal acceptance, a gesture underscored by the personal attendance of their Supreme Sultan at the opening ceremonies. While the initial engagement was widely perceived as a promising thaw—fostering a tentative atmosphere of mutual goodwill and a rare cessation of hostilities—the subsequent implementation of the agreed-upon resolutions has regrettably stalled. Despite the positive optics, the tangible execution of the peace roadmap remains unfulfilled, leaving the community’s hopes hanging in the balance.
A major stumbling block to the accord’s success has been the conspicuous and sustained absence of the Dhulbahante clan from the negotiation table. Despite multiple official invitations and repeated overtures dispatched directly from the Presidency, the Dhulbahante leadership remained aloof during the first phase, declining to send representatives to the initial sittings. Their non-participation cast a long shadow over the viability of the talks, as their demographic weight and territorial influence in Sanaag are indispensable for any durable settlement.
However, in a significant and strategic pivot, a formidable new coalition is now stepping into the fray. Somaliland’s Minister of Water Resources, Mohamed Abdimalik, has launched an intensive, high-level engagement drive explicitly aimed at bringing the Dhulbahante community into the fold. Joining him in this mission are prominent Dhulbahante figures who hold key portfolios within the Somaliland administration—most notably Naalaye Ahmed and other influential clan elders with deep roots in the local power structure.
Insiders reveal that this new offensive is not merely ceremonial. Minister Abdimalik and his delegation are actively traversing clan heartlands, conducting shuttle diplomacy with traditional elders, religious leaders, and the educated elite. Their strategy involves deconstructing the deep-seated distrust that historically has kept the Dhulbahante at arm’s length from Hargeisa’s overtures. Crucially, the Minister is leveraging his portfolio to address pragmatic, grassroots grievances—foremost among them being the acute water scarcity and resource-sharing disputes that lie at the core of inter-communal friction. By framing the peace “gogol” (foundation) as a conduit for tangible development dividends rather than a mere political truce, they aim to shift the narrative from skepticism to vested interest.
The stakes of this endeavor could not be higher. Successful implementation of the Erigavo peace plan would not only provide a permanent ceasefire and a mechanism for conflict resolution in one of Somaliland’s most volatile flashpoints but would also serve as a precedent-setting model for inclusive governance across the disputed eastern territories. Conversely, failure to secure Dhulbahante buy-in risks plunging the region back into cyclical violence and deepening the administrative fragmentation that has long plagued the Sanaag corridor.
As the ministerial delegation intensifies its shuttle diplomacy, all eyes are now fixed on the Dhulbahante settlements. The coming days will be critical in determining whether this latest, more inclusive push can bridge the historical divides and transform the stalled peace framework from a document of intent into a living, breathing reality for the people of Erigavo.
About the Author: Jama Ayaanle Feyte is a distinguished journalist, a specialist in Horn of Africa security dynamics, and a political analyst whose work focuses on governance, conflict resolution, and regional integration.
