It has come to the attention of the Isaaq Genocide Foundation that Ethiopian Airlines is unfairly targeting travellers to the State of the Republic of Somaliland. The Somaliland diaspora traveling to Hargeisa, Somaliland have informed us that they are forced to acquire visas that claim Hargeisa, the capital city of Somaliland, is in Somalia. Travellers to Hargeisa, Somaliland have been getting their visas upon arrival at Egal International Airport. We wonder what has prompted Ethiopian Airlines to take such a drastic step, that causes many of its loyal customers such angst.
Somalia’s recent declaration, labeling the Republic of Somaliland as an enemy and threatening war, is a stark reminder of the brutal and devastating Isaaq genocide. This ominous threat is a clear indication of Somalia’s intention to continue its campaign of violence and persecution against the people of Somaliland.
The Isaaq genocide, orchestrated by Somalia’s regime, resulted in the massacre of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, displaced hundreds of thousands more, and left a trail of destruction in its wake.
The Isaaq Genocide Foundation is alarmed by the misidentification of the Republic of Somaliland by its neighbor, Djibouti. The Foreign Minister of Djibouti, Mr. Mohamoud Ali Youssuf, was quoted on Aswaat.com, an Egyptian website, falsely claiming that the Republic of Somaliland is a separatist, breakaway region of Somalia. He further alleges that Somaliland was a British Protectorate that declared independence in 1991 and has yet to be recognized.
He completely ignores the fact that the Republic of Somaliland was annexed and militarily occupied by Somalia from 1960 to 1991, shortly after it gained independence from the United Kingdom.
The Horn of Africa has recently witnessed a worrying escalation of political tensions, with the strained relationship between Somalia and the Republic of Somaliland reaching a critical point. Somalia has officially labeled Somaliland as an enemy and threatened war, a declaration reminiscent of the dark history of the Isaaq genocide. This grim reminder of the past has raised concerns about the potential for history to repeat itself and the necessity for the international community to take action to prevent another genocide.
In recent weeks, the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia have witnessed a distressing increase in violence directed at innocent members of Somaliland’s Isaaq community. These violent executions have shocked the Republic of Somaliland. These sad occurrences illustrate not only the frightening escalation in violence against Somalilanders living in Somalia, but also the critical need for justice and responsibility. Accusations point to the involvement of Somalia’s National Security personnel in these heinous acts, exacerbating the complexity and urgency of an already grim situation.
In the wake of recent distressing events, our hearts weigh heavy with sorrow as we commemorate the loss of Abdinasir Musa Dahable, a dedicated member of the ICAO staff at Mogadishu Airport in Somalia, and Ahmed Aadan, a former parliamentarian. Their untimely deaths, under troubling circumstances, have sent shockwaves through our community, leaving us grappling with profound grief and unanswered questions. To make matters worse, six of Abdinasir’s colleagues from the Isaaq community have been detained without cause by the Somalia government.
