The Vacuum of Sovereignty: How Somaliland’s Inaction on the Xeer Issa Celebration Threatens Its Own Foundation:
On December 5, 2024, the recognition of the Xeer Cisse by UNESCO marked a significant milestone for Somali cultural heritage. This ancient legal code, which has guided peaceful coexistence and conflict resolution among the Issa community in the Guban region for over five centuries, was rightfully inscribed as an intangible treasure of humanity. The recognition was not merely a victory for the Issa; it resonated as a triumph for all Somalis, showcasing an indigenous governance system that predates the modern state. However, the planned first-anniversary celebration in Zailac—the historical birthplace of the Xeer and the intronisation of the Issa Ougases—has brought to light a profoundly misleading l crisis within Somaliland, an aspiring state striving for legitimacy and recognition.
The rejection of the celebration by the Mahad Casse tribe, a sub-clan of the Gadabuursi community, coupled with the Somaliland administration’s policy of dangerous appeasement, has created a vacuum where the foundational principles of statehood—justice, order, and sovereignty—are being critically eroded. The implications of this inaction extend far beyond a single cultural celebration; they threaten the very fabric of Somaliland’s governance and its aspirations for international recognition.
The Roots of Resistance:
The refusal of the Mahad Casse tribe to allow the celebration is cloaked in obscure motivations, yet its contours are familiar within the Somali political landscape. Their rhetoric, branding the Issa as “foreigners” and claiming that “the whole country belongs to Gadabuursi,” is a political maneuver rather than a historical fact. This assertion of territorial primacy in the Guban area seeks to instrumentalize a cultural event for political ends, possibly influenced by external dynamics. By obstructing the celebration, the Mahad Casse aim to undermine the Issa’s historical roots in Zailac, challenging any narrative that affirms their foundational role in the region’s history. The irony is palpable: the Xeer Issa has long regulated interactions in the Guban area, providing a framework that governed even their Mahad Casse neighbors.
The rejection of the celebration is not merely a denial of the Xeer; it is an outright repudiation of the symbolic power that such a celebration confers—power over legacy, belonging, and historical primacy. The Mahad Casse’s actions reflect a broader struggle for identity and control within a fragmented political landscape, where cultural heritage is often weaponized in clan rivalries.
The Absence of the State:
Yet, the more alarming actor in this unfolding drama is not the dissenting community but the absent state. The Somaliland administration’s response—or lack thereof—represents a catastrophic failure of governance. By adopting a policy of “dangerous appeasement,” the government is not maintaining peace; it is merely postponing conflict, accumulating an unsustainable debt of stability that will inevitably come due. This inaction creates a perilous vacuum in three critical domains.
First, it constitutes a voluntary abdication of sovereignty. A fundamental pillar of statehood is the monopoly on legitimate force and the authority to arbitrate law. When a sub-state actor can veto a lawful, internationally recognized cultural event without consequence, the state’s authority becomes theoretical. Somaliland’s silence signals that its jurisdiction is negotiable and that its laws can be overridden by clan-based ultimatums. This undermines its decades-long campaign for international recognition, presenting a troubling image of a government incapable of governing its own territory.
Second, the government’s neutrality effectively endorses the aggressor. In any dispute, a refusal to defend a party’s lawful rights inherently strengthens the position of the party violating those rights. The Issa community possesses a clear, justified claim to celebrate their heritage in its historical cradle. By failing to intervene and protect the Issa’s rights, the administration is not merely remaining neutral; it can be understood as allowing the Mahad Casse’s obstruction to succeed. This establishes a toxic precedent: that brinkmanship and veto power are effective political strategies, while law-abiding patience is met with neglect.
Third, this appeasement betrays the foundational contract of citizenship. A government’s primary duty is to ensure the rights and security of all its citizens without discrimination. The Issa community are citizens of Somaliland. By failing to guarantee their right to a peaceful cultural assembly, the government effectively creates a second-class citizenship, where rights are contingent upon the approval of neighboring clans. This is a recipe for alienation, resentment, and the eventual erosion of national unity. The message to the Issa is clear: they cannot rely on the state for justice. This perception invites communities to pursue alternative, non-state means of securing their rights, potentially leading to the very violence the government seeks to avoid.
A Missed Opportunity:
The celebration of the Xeer Issa in Zailac should not be a point of contention but a point of national pride. It presents an opportunity for Somaliland to showcase its rich, pluralistic heritage to the world. The government’s path forward is not one of complex diplomacy but of foundational principle. To reclaim its authority and restore faith in its governance, the Somaliland administration must take decisive action.
1. Articulate a Clear Stand: The government should issue a formal statement recognizing the UNESCO achievement as a national victory, affirming its commitment to securing the celebration in Zailac as a matter of law and cultural right. This statement should resonate not only within Somaliland but also internationally, reinforcing the narrative of a state that values its diverse heritage.
2. Convene Immediate and Transparent Mediation: The administration must act as an honest broker, bringing together elders from both the Issa and Mahad Casse communities to address true grievances. However, mediation must proceed under the non-negotiable understanding that the celebration will occur under state protection. This approach can foster dialogue while affirming the state’s authority.
3. Uphold the Rule of Law: The government should publicly commit to deploying security forces to ensure safety and order during the celebration. It must make it unequivocal that obstruction will be met with the lawful force of the state. By doing so, Somaliland can reinforce its commitment to justice and the rule of law.
4. Restoring the territorial integrity and unitary nature of the 1960 Zailac district is crucial for long-term peace and stability. The current turmoil stems from a conspiracy orchestrated by President Rayaleh in 2005, driven by excessive tribal ambitions that have eroded constitutional order. This manipulation not only fractured community bonds but also perpetuated cycles of conflict. Addressing this historical grievance is essential; without rectifying these injustices, the region will remain vulnerable to unrest, undermining efforts toward sustainable governance and social cohesion. A commitment to restoring Zailac’s original boundaries could pave the way for reconciliation and lasting stability.
The Path Forward:
The question is no longer why the Mahad Casse tribes are behaving provocatively, but why the Somaliland government is allowing them to dictate the terms of cultural and political life. The vacuum in Zailac is a vacuum of sovereignty, a vacuum of justice, and a vacuum of leadership. For a nation that built its identity on resilience and self-determination, surrendering to clan-based coercion is a betrayal of its potential.
If Somaliland wishes to be recognized as a legitimate state, it must first act like one. It must ensure that within its borders, right, not might, is the ultimate authority. The anniversary of the Xeer Cisse on December 5, 2025, will be more than a cultural celebration; it will serve as a referendum on Somaliland’s commitment to the principles of just rule and order upon which any legitimate state is built. The time has come for Somaliland to step into its role as a sovereign entity, embracing its rich cultural tapestry while upholding the rights of all its citizens. Only then can it hope to transcend the shadows of clan politics and emerge as a beacon of stability and unity in the Horn of Africa.
