SUMMARY

SNM – calan cas has been a common name for the more socialist segments of SNM (Somali National Movement). Calan cas means ‘red flag’, and was first applied to segments of SNM that had been trained militarily in the Soviet bloc. It has sometimes been referred to as the SNM Khaakh and was the name for the hardliners opposing the ‘Tuur’, and later Egal, governments within the SNM ranks. The decision to appoint ‘Tuur’ as the chair of SNM was a clear militarisation of the organisation. When he later became President of Somaliland there were high concerns about how he would be able to address the concerns of all, in relation to the concerns of the members of his clan.

The cleavages that had been building within SNM in the 1980s were increased when the President attempted to centralise the control of the military, arms, and income through the harbour in Berbera. The cleavage in SNM is said to have been based around supporters of the ‘Tuur’ regime while the opponents, the calan cas supported Ahmed Silanyo (Habar Jaalo), who had headed SNM in the 1980s. It is however not entirely clear who was the leader of SNM calan cas at the moment of the clashes in 1992 but apart from Silanyo it has been argued that Colonel Ibrahim ‘Dagaweyne’ led the militia that was involved in the start of conflict in Berbera.

As with most politics in Somalia, and in this case Somaliland, clan membership was a good indication of where one’s supported would lie. The supporters for ‘Tuur’ were mainly the Garhajis clan (Isaaq) and in particular Habar Yunis, which is a sub-clan of Garhajis. The opposition, clans that felt they were being cheated on influence that they believed they had the right to. Mainly this opposition was formed by members of the Habar Jaalo and Issa Muse of the Habar Awal (Isaaq).

Following the Sheikh conference in 1992 and the Berbera conference in 1993, both of which were focused on how to reconcile the tensions between the clans and former segments of SNM, there is no information about SNM calan cas. The change in the leadership of Somaliland seems to have been successful in keeping the parties away from conflict.

The SNM – calan cas has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.