By Horn Africa News Staff
Garowe, Somalia — Garaad Jama Garaad Ali, the Supreme Traditional Leader of SSC-Khatumo, has spoken out for the first time about the current situation in the SSC regions, the conclusion of the regional reconciliation conference, and the growing interference of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) in local affairs.
In a strong and emotional statement, Garaad Jama emphasized the need for unity, local leadership, and respect for the will of the people of SSC-Khatumo, rejecting any external control or imposed decisions from Mogadishu.
“I will not be governed by decisions made elsewhere. I cannot accept for the Warsangali people — my brothers — to be subjected to what I have fought against for the past 15 years. We do not desire to dominate them, nor will we select leaders for them. We cannot and will not accept today what we rejected and fought against yesterday. Please understand us, my brothers — we want a united,” said Garaad Jama.
He firmly stated that the SSC-Khatumo community has full ownership of its decisions and governance and warned against actions being taken by the federal government that could destabilize the fragile peace and unity that local leaders and communities have worked hard to achieve.
Garaad Jama also expressed concerns about past experiences, highlighting that he had already witnessed false promises and misleading narratives from various political actors, reinforcing his position that the region must determine its future independently.
“SSC-Khatumo must decide its own path — decisions cannot come from outside. The ongoing interference poses a serious threat. I have seen these false promises before, and we will not fall for them again,” he added.
His remarks come at a crucial time, as SSC-Khatumo moves toward finalizing its reconciliation and administrative formation processes following months of conflict and political uncertainty.
Garaad Jama’s message is widely seen as a call for respect of local autonomy, rejection of political manipulation, and a demand for inclusive and genuine unity among the communities of northern Somalia, especially between Dhulbahante and Warsangali clans.
