Somalia’s modern history is often framed through the contrasting phases of the government led by President Mohamed Siyad Barre. The early years of his rule are remembered for relative national cohesion, expanding infrastructure, and a strong military presence. Many Somalis recall this period as one in which citizens across different regions—including Somali communities in Djibouti and Ethiopia—experienced a sense of shared national identity.
By the late 1970s and 1980s, however, Somali politics shifted as opposition movements such as the Somali National Movement (SNM) and the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF) emerged. Barre’s government responded with harsh security measures, detaining and targeting political opponents. Although repression was widespread, analysts generally characterize it as politically driven rather than clan-based, and no officially recognized genocide occurred during this period. Still, the intensifying conflict ultimately contributed to the collapse of the Somali state in 1991.
In the aftermath of state collapse, local administrations began to emerge in different regions. Puntland and Somaliland were among the earliest. Puntland consistently advocated for Somali unity and engaged in peace efforts aimed at re-establishing central governance, even as much of the country continued to experience conflict. Somaliland, by contrast, asserted a distinct political identity and declared itself an independent state in 1991, promoting a narrative of stability, democratic progress, and separation from the rest of Somalia.
Critics argue that Somaliland benefited politically from instability in southern Somalia, portraying itself as functionally different from regions engulfed in civil war or extremism. This narrative played a role in Somaliland’s long-standing bid for international recognition. At the same time, Somaliland has faced growing scrutiny from analysts who note that the region is now confronting internal pressures of its own.
Today, observers point to several challenges affecting Somaliland’s domestic landscape. These include movements advocating for an Awdal state, controversy surrounding the North Eastern State, ’s participation in Somalia’s Federal Member States without any formal intention of seceding from Somalia, and reports suggesting that this dynamic partly influenced Somaliland’s military operations in South West areas, which resulted in significant human rights abuses and humanitarian suffering. Additional pressures include rising tensions in the Sanaag region, the presence of Islamist groups now hostile to Somaliland, and increasing civic activism in urban centers such as Burao.
A well-known Somali proverb captures the lessons that many draw from this historical and political trajectory: “Do not dig a pit for your brother, for you may fall into it yourself.” As Somalia continues to grapple with questions of federalism, unity, and regional autonomy, the evolving situation in Somaliland serves as a reminder of the long-term consequences of political strategy, narrative construction, and the pursuit of statehood in a complex and fragmented environment.