Somaliland

Bombings Could Jeopardize Somaliland’s Fragile Security

On October 29, five car bombings erupted in northern Somalia. Targeted buildings include United Nations offices, government posts and the presidential palace in Somaliland. Somaliland’s President Dahr Riyale Kahin stated that his secretary and adviser were killed in the attacks. No blame has been appropriated yet, but some blame an Islamist terror group known as Shabab. At least twenty people were killed.

Regardless of who actually committed these attacks, the bombings that took place this week are a direct assault of the democratic efforts taking place in Somaliland. The International Herald Tribune says that the small, but efficient government established in Somaliland provides security for over a million people. While southern Somalia has been troubled with attacks of this nature, northern Somalia has been perceived by natives and foreigners alike to be a “safe haven” in the Horn of Africa. It has fallen victim to some terrorist attacks but they were directed towards foreign aid workers and the attacks did not succeed in fully undermining the government. With this in mind, it is clear in this day in age that no area of the world is safe from terrorism. Organized groups resort to terrorism in an effort to increase power, obtain media attention to make their cause more public to the world and, in some cases, strive to reacquire lost territory. The situation in northern Somalia must be watched closely, as this region’s fragile democracy could be substantially jeopardized.

Realist

http://www.afrol.com/articles/31459

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/29/africa/somalia.php

October 30, 2008 at 5:52 pm