By Prof. Nassir Hussein Kahin, Executive Managing Editor.
Symbolic Handshake Offers Hope for Peace After Years of Violence.
In a significant development toward ending years of bloodshed in northern Somalia, senior traditional leaders from Somaliland and the SSC-Khatumo region have pledged to de-escalate hostilities and pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced tens of thousands more.
The announcement came during a traditional coronation ceremony held Monday in the Somali region of Ethiopia, where Garad Jama Garad Ali, the paramount leader of SSC-Khatumo, declared that no further attacks would be launched from his territory against Somaliland.
“We have suffered too much. I will not allow any aggression from our side,” Garad Jama stated, urging his counterpart, Suldan Daud Suldan Mohamed—a prominent traditional figure from Somaliland—to make a similar commitment.
Suldan Mohamed responded with a pledge of his own, vowing to exhaust all peaceful avenues to halt the cycle of violence that has destabilized the region. “Continued bloodshed serves no one’s interest,” he said. “We must find another way—dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation.”
The two leaders sealed their mutual understanding with a public handshake—a potent symbol of goodwill and a critical confidence-building measure. Though no formal ceasefire was announced, the gesture was widely interpreted as a turning point in a long and bitter conflict.
Years of clashes between Somaliland forces and SSC-aligned militias have resulted in repeated offensives and counter-offensives, devastating civilian populations and compounding displacement across contested areas in Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn.
Monday’s joint declaration marked one of the most high-profile acknowledgments by traditional leaders of the urgent need for negotiated settlement. It also underscored the increasingly visible role of traditional authority in peacemaking, particularly where political processes have faltered.
“Traditional leaders wield significant influence in Somali society. Their ability to engage communities directly gives them an edge in conflict resolution,” said a regional analyst who asked not to be named. “This move opens the door for political leaders to follow suit and work toward a formal, lasting agreement.”
Observers noted that while the commitments remain verbal, they represent a rare and critical alignment between two of the region’s most respected elders. Their engagement is seen as essential to ending a conflict that has defied military solutions and eroded trust among communities.
Diplomatic sources and civil society groups welcomed the move and called on political leaders on both sides to capitalize on the momentum.
“This is a window of opportunity,” said one elder from a neutral region. “We’ve seen what war can do. Now we must see what peace can achieve.”
As communities await next steps, the onus now falls on both traditional and political actors to translate this symbolic gesture into tangible progress. For a region weary of war, the handshake between Garad Jama and Suldan Daud may just mark the beginning of a new chapter—one built on dialogue, not division.
