SUMMARY

When SNM (Somali National Movement) and elders of Somaliland, as a response to the disappointment of Ali Madhi’s decision to declare himself president of Somalia, declared independence in May 1991, SNM played an important role. This was perhaps not surprising considering the role SNM had played in fighting the Siyad Barre regime and the Isaaq clan’s, which SNM mainly consisted of, strength in the North part of Somalia, previously known as British Somaliland. The first president of, the still unrecognized, Somaliland became Ahmed Ali ‘Tuur’, who was the Chair of SNM. Tuur came from the Habar Yunis clan of the Garhajis (Isaaq).

The euphoria of the independent state, which must have been a great relief for Isaaq clan members who had been persecuted by Siyad Barre’s regime in the previous decade, was soon shattered as Intra-Isaaq clan fighting broke out. The conflict can be traced back both to long-running rivalries between the Habar Yunis of the Garhajis (Isaaq) and Habar Jaalo (Isaaq). The cleavage that cracked further in 1992 can also be traced to growing tensions between the clans in the late 1980s, when there were disagreements on whether all clans contributed enough to SNM. That there was a political conflict between Tuur and his predecessor Ahmed Silanyo (Habar Jaalo) further increased the tensions. Opposition against ‘Tuur’ also came from Issa Muse (Habar Awal/Isaaq), where Colonel Ibrahim ‘Dagaweyne’ was a prominent leader. The pro-‘Tuur’ section of SNM was sometimes called the SNM Shiish. The triggering factor in 1992 however was a ‘government’ move which falls within the expected tasks of a government but that, considering the situation, was interpreted as a way of increasing Habar Yunis’ strength in relation to others.

It was an attempt to bring heavy weapons under the control of the government which made the SNM fighters in Burao worried. These fighters came from Habar Jaalo and were not interested in giving away the insurance that the weapons were seen to give them. The fighting that erupted lasted for a number of days, leaving many people dead. The conflict as such was also an underlying reason for the ‘Sheep war’ that erupted a couple of months later in the port town of Berbera. By the time the ‘Sheep war’ began the resistance against the attempted centralization by ‘Tuur’ had spread to also include members of the Issa Muse clan who previously had been in control of the port in Berbera. They were accused of keeping some of the profits for themselves and as government troops, mainly Habar Yunis, were sent to the city to take control of the port, fighting followed. The fighting continued for several months and the Somaliland troops were unable to seize the port.

The violence to some degree stimulated debate and discussion between the clans, and a resolution to the immediate conflict was reached at the Sheikh conference in late 1992, which was followed by the Borama conference in 1993.

The non-state conflict between the Republic of Somaliland and SNM – 'Calan cas' is first included in UCDP data in 1992. In January of that year violent clashes flared up in the region, resulting in over 25 battle-related deaths.