The Enemy Within Theatens Somaliland’s Democracy and Unity and Must Be Confronted.
By Prof. Nassir Hussein Kahin, Executive Managing Editor.
As Somaliland proudly commemorated its 34th anniversary of reclaiming independence on May 18, 2025, it was a moment to reflect on a remarkable journey built on sacrifice, peace, democratic practice, and national unity. Yet, even as we raised our flags in celebration, a darker storm brewed beneath the surface—a dangerous internal threat that, if left unchecked, could unravel decades of hard-earned progress. That threat is not from foreign powers or external enemies, but from within: rogue tribal figures disguised as traditional leaders and the proliferation of unregulated, fake news media outlets poisoning the minds of the public, especially the youth.
In recent months, the rise of inflammatory YouTube-based misinformation campaigns has become a clear and present danger. These channels, often operating under the guise of news platforms, are not rooted in journalistic ethics but in tribal propaganda, deliberate disinformation, and political sabotage. They incite violence, manufacture lies, and stir ethnic divisions under the illusion of free speech. Their content is consumed, believed, and acted upon—tragically seen in the recent Burao riots, where fake reports triggered chaos, leading to injuries, property damage, and the unnecessary loss of two innocent lives.
What’s most alarming is the active complicity—or worse, orchestration—of some self-styled “traditional leaders” who have abandoned their sacred role as mediators and peacekeepers. These individuals, rather than uniting communities and upholding customary laws, are behaving like unelected political warlords. They weaponize tribal identity to manipulate public sentiment, spread falsehoods, and challenge the legitimacy of democratically elected institutions. This is not leadership. It is reckless power-seeking at the expense of national stability.
Somaliland’s democracy—still young, still fragile—cannot and must not tolerate this.
This is not about silencing dissent or curbing freedom of expression. On the contrary, it is about defending the very values upon which freedom thrives: truth, responsibility, and rule of law. No democracy, not even the world’s oldest, allows for the incitement of violence under the banner of free speech. As the American jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes famously stated, “You cannot shout fire in a crowded theatre.” Likewise, one cannot manufacture riots with lies and call it journalism.
The Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Education must immediately take coordinated action. This includes:
1. Developing and enforcing a media licensing system that holds platforms accountable for the content they broadcast.
2. Launching a national media literacy campaign to educate citizens—especially youth—on how to differentiate between reliable news and digital deception.
3. Passing strong digital defamation and anti-fake news laws that do not curb free speech, but punish incitement, slander, and misinformation that harms national unity.
4. Investing in technology and expertise that can monitor and counteract dangerous online narratives before they erupt into violence.
Furthermore, it is time to reevaluate the role of traditional leadership. Cultural elders and traditional authorities are vital to our social fabric, but they must return to their constitutional and customary duties: community healing, inter-clan dialogue, and dispute resolution—not political agitation or digital disruption.
This is an urgent appeal to every citizen: protect the truth. Defend unity. Reject the lies. Let us expose the “enemy within” before it tears apart the very foundations we’ve built over three decades.
The future of Somaliland’s democracy depends on it.
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