Africa-Press. Amidst concerted efforts to gain international recognition, based on a regionally criticized Israeli acknowledgment, the region of Somaliland is facing escalating military defections that threaten the stability of its forces in favor of the Somali federal army.
Colonel Ali Ahmed Ismail, known as Ashkato, who recently defected, stated in a special interview that the region’s forces “no longer have any local military representation from the residents of the contested areas of Sool, Sanaag, and Togdheer,” which are disputed with the northeastern state.
The “Northeast State of Somalia” was formed only about a year ago and claims parts of the eastern regions of Somaliland.
According to Ashkato, the “military unit he led was the last force from those areas within the region’s forces before it transitioned to the ranks of the Somali federal army.”
He explained that “the defection was not merely a limited transfer of a number of soldiers, but resulted from their choice to stand with the residents of their areas and their families,” adding: “We were the last remaining faction of Somaliland from the northeastern provinces… and we chose to unite our ranks with our families and people in our region and join the Northeast.”
Seeing is Believing!
In response to reports that downplayed the size of the defecting forces, he stated that “the significance of the step is not measured by the number of defectors.” He added: “The news is not like the observation; seeing is believing!”
He revealed that members of his unit have completed registration and integration procedures within the Somali army, stating that they “have been registered in the army count, we all passed for organization, and we joined the federal army as a regular unit,” noting that “the remaining part will be registered later.”
He added: “There is no longer any military representation or presence for our areas in Somaliland; I was the last unit present with them, and I chose the Northeast.”
He distinguished between the presence of Somaliland forces in their traditional areas and their ability to represent or control the areas to which they belong.
Extension of Local Communities
The roots of the tension in the provinces of Sool, Sanaag, and parts of Togdheer (Ayn region) stem from the claims of Somaliland over these areas, which fall within the boundaries of the former British Somaliland protectorate that declared independence in 1991. The Northeast State of Somalia, which developed locally and was recognized by the federal government last year, sees itself as an extension of its local communities, particularly the Dulbahante clan.
After violent fighting in 2023, the region’s forces withdrew from Las Anod and large areas of Sool, and the front lines have remained tense in Sanaag and the vicinity of Buhodle, where the region has since witnessed mutual defections at both political and military levels.
Ashkato denied any direct connection between his defection and normalization with Israel, clarifying: “There is no direct relationship between my decision and normalization with Israel.” He added: “However, there will be no normalization in Northeast Somalia with any entity we do not want.”
Israel… and a Visit to Washington
Last December, Israel announced its recognition of the region’s independence, becoming the first UN member state to take this step, with the exchange of ambassadors and the opening of a Somaliland embassy in Jerusalem, along with an official visit by the region’s president to Israel last June.
Although the Israeli recognition marked an important diplomatic breakthrough for the region, it has not yet resulted in a wave of international recognitions.
According to local reports, the president of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), is expected to travel to the U.S. capital, Washington, next month, as part of a large delegation aimed at enhancing the prospects for U.S. recognition of the region.
Colonel Ashkato attempted to present his defection as a political and social decision linked to belonging to the local population, stating that “the residents of Sool and Sanaag chose to build their own political entity,” calling on any figures or individuals still receiving salaries from structures affiliated with Somaliland to join the Northeast State of Somalia.
While the Northeast State welcomed the move, no official position has yet been issued by the authorities of Somaliland. According to Ashkato’s account, “the defection may represent more than just a limited military loss and could indicate a deeper problem facing Somaliland in the east and its ability to maintain its influence in contested areas without a local military and political base to rely on.”
