The Ogaden

29/10/2025

𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱

Puntland, a region closely connected to the Somali Regional State (SRS) by geography, trade, and social ties, has once again shocked the public with another disturbing case of abuse.

A video circulating on social media shows Mowlid Mohamed Dahir, a member of the Bah-Yaasuf, Reer Xirsi, Maalin Guur sub-clan of the Ogaden, from Mayu Muluqo District in the Somali Regional State, being held in a filthy cell with his legs chainedb in Bacaad Weyn, Puntaland.

Mowliid was accused of stealing from a local shop in Puntland. However, instead of being brought to justice through lawful means, he has been subjected to brutal and inhumane treatment under extremely harsh conditions.

This is not the first incident involving citizens from the Somali Regional State who travel to Puntland seeking work and better opportunities. Just a few months ago, another case involving a woman from SRS went viral on social media, showing her suffering under even harsher conditions than Mohamed. Thanks to the intervention of SRS government officials, she was rescued. Unfortunately, these cases appear to be part of a broader pattern rather than isolated events.

Mowliid claims he has been in Puntland for about five months, including the time he has spent in detention. He says he had been working as a camel herder for a local resident before being accused of theft and chained.

Since the Somali Regional State and Puntland share a long border, along with trade, social ties, and the movement of people for business, healthcare, and employment, it is impossible to stop migration between the two regions. Therefore, steps must be taken to prevent such abuses from happening again.

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

1)The SRS government should urge the Puntland administration to take full responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of Somali Regional State citizens living and working in Puntland.

2)The SRS community and job seekers in Puntland should establish a community organization that can represent their interests and coordinate with local authorities.

3)Job seekers from SRS planning to work in Puntland should first contact the local SRS community before accepting employment, to ensure their safety and proper guidance.

4)The Ethiopian Consulate in Garowe should register SRS citizens and monitor their welfare, ensuring their protection and access to assistance when needed.

𝐀 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝

The repeated abuse of Somali Regional State workers and residents in Puntland is immoral, inhumane, and unacceptable. We urge the people of Puntland to firmly reject such actions and call on the Puntland authorities to ensure that all perpetrators are held fully accountable.
These violations must end, and the dignity, safety, and fundamental rights of every individual, regardless of origin, must be respected and protected.

27/10/2025

Abdirahman Mahdi has accused the Prosperity Party (PP) of fueling intercommunal clashes between Somalis and Oromos along the border areas, allegedly using the OLA as a covert force.

27/10/2025

Putin today officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement between Russia and Venezuela, which is facing threats of war from the United States. According to Russia’s RT television, the agreement gives Venezuela the opportunity to receive military support — including weapons and intelligence — if the United States launches an attack.

Source: Iman Jama

12/10/2025

The SRS administration organized rallies in different cities of the SRS in support of the newly implemented federal projects in the region.

10/10/2025

𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲

Jijiga has made remarkable progress in road development and city planning projects. The newly built roads have greatly enhanced the city’s beauty and sense of modernization, a commendable step forward.

However, what has disappointed many residents is that these new roads have unexpectedly disrupted daily commuting and connectivity. The Jijiga City Administration recently banned three-wheelers from using the newly constructed roads, citing safety and traffic concerns.

Jijiga, being a relatively young and growing city, still lacks a well-organized public transport system. Most residents depend heavily on privately owned three-wheelers, the backbone of the city’s daily transport network and the main source of income for many families and young people who have no other means of livelihood.

The city administration must strike a careful balance between modernization, safety, and public mobility. Banning the only affordable and accessible transport method without providing an alternative risks causing serious hardship for the public.

Many families, especially mothers in labor and patients in need of urgent care, rely on these three-wheelers to reach hospitals. Given the city’s limited ambulance coverage, such restrictions could lead to critical and avoidable emergencies.

Therefore, the city administration should prioritize establishing a structured public transport system that ensures accessibility and mobility for all. In the meantime, it should find practical solutions for mothers, workers, and students who currently have no reliable means of transportation to hospitals, schools, and workplaces.

Road projects truly fulfill their purpose only when they improve a city’s movement and connectivity. If they instead hinder the very mobility they were meant to enhance, then they fail to serve their purpose.

04/10/2025

The Ogaden Gas and Oil in 1945.

04/10/2025

The New Multi-Billion Dollar Projects in the Somali Regional State: Blessing or Curse?

Ethiopia’s new multi-billion-dollar projects in the Somali Regional State (Ogaden) have the potential to become either a blessing or a curse. For decades, Ethiopia has miscalculated its approach to this region. Now, with high-value, fixed infrastructure being built at the heart of Ogaden, the stakes are higher than ever. These projects could serve as the foundation for Ethiopia’s industrialization and modernization provided the country learns from its past mistakes in dealing with the Somali people.

Historically, Ethiopia has failed to recognize the resilience, vigilance, and deep-rooted patriotism of the people of the Somali Regional State. The Somali people have never opposed the extraction and utilization of natural resources on their land. What they have consistently resisted is the exploitation of those resources without their consent, consultation, and fair participation. Those who attempted to impose resource extraction unilaterally have repeatedly failed, often facing both shame and the verdict of history.

The current wave of projects can indeed be a blessing for both the Somali Regional State and Ethiopia as a whole but only if certain conditions are met:

1) Ethiopia must learn from its past patterns of exclusion and marginalization of the Somali people.

2) A transparent and fair resource-sharing formula must be established.

3) Resource management and policymaking must be inclusive and Somali-led.

4) Hiring and recruitment must be conducted transparently.

5) Somali youth must be aggressively trained for high-skilled roles, ensuring they are not confined to low-wage positions.

If these measures are ignored and Ethiopia falls back into its old patterns, the projects will likely become a curse. Unlike the speculative ventures of the 19th and 20th centuries, today’s projects are high-value fixed assets that touch directly on national security. They are also highly vulnerable to sabotage by rebel groups if mismanaged.

Moreover, these projects are being launched within a society marked by a long history of exclusion, marginalization, and military repression. This makes the social environment especially sensitive and potentially volatile if sincere and carefully designed plans are not implemented.

The first responsibility of both the federal and regional governments is to carefully manage public perception, analyze public sentiment in real time, and adjust policies accordingly. Only by listening, including, and respecting the Somali people can these projects truly become a foundation for shared prosperity rather than a trigger for renewed conflict.

03/10/2024

Hard to watch, but a must!

This feature length investigation by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit exposes Israeli war crimes in the Gaza Strip through the medium of photos and videos pos...