By Liban Abdi Ali - Reporter
“The more united and cohesive Somalia is, the better able it is to protect its interests; the more divided it becomes, the more vulnerable its resources are to becoming bargaining chips in the hands of others.”
Somalia’s unity and sovereignty are not merely domestic matters concerning Somalis alone. They are directly connected to the security and stability of the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Somalia’s geopolitical location, its coastline stretching more than 3,000 kilometres, and its proximity to the Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mandeb make the country’s stability and territorial integrity an important part of the regional and international security equation — one that should not be compromised.
The importance of unity is particularly evident at this critical moment for Somalia and the wider region, amid rapidly shifting regional and international dynamics and growing competition over influence, resources and strategic locations.
This period demands a sense of national responsibility from all political actors and an understanding that fragmentation and division do not generate strength. Instead, they deepen weakness and provide those seeking to exploit Somalia’s disagreements with opportunities to undermine its interests, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
We live in a world where even powerful and self-sufficient states seek allies and partners to confront their adversaries and protect their interests. If powerful countries themselves need alliances and cooperation, Somalis have an even greater need for unity, solidarity and the prioritisation of the national interest over narrow political and personal interests.
No state today, regardless of the resources it possesses or its military and economic strength, can confront international challenges entirely on its own. This is why political, economic and defence alliances are formed and why states continuously seek broader circles of cooperation to safeguard their interests.
In such a world, it makes little sense for Somalis to move in the opposite direction or for some to view division as a path towards strength or stability, when experiences around us demonstrate that states are better able to protect their interests when they are more internally united and cohesive.
We are also living through a period in which states and peoples that share common interests and characteristics increasingly seek what brings them together rather than what divides them. Somalis, united by a common homeland, ethnicity, language, culture, history and destiny, have even greater reason to do so.
Any Somali region or party that believes it can independently achieve lasting strategic objectives or secure gains that exclude other Somalis may ultimately discover that external alliances and interests are changeable, and that the only genuine and enduring guarantee lies in the strength, unity and cohesion of the homeland.
The interests of states are not permanent. Alliances that appear solid today may change tomorrow as calculations and circumstances shift. Geography, however, does not change, and belonging to a single homeland cannot be treated according to the logic of temporary political deals.
Any short-term gains achieved at the expense of national unity may therefore carry greater long-term risks, because external actors deal first and foremost according to their own interests, which do not necessarily align with the aspirations or future of the local party involved.
This reality becomes even more significant when considering Somalia’s strategic position at the meeting point of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, close to one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes linking the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea, the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean.
A unified Somali state capable of exercising sovereignty over its territory and waters strengthens maritime security and contributes to combating piracy, smuggling, organised crime and other transnational threats.
Somalia’s unity therefore extends beyond domestic politics to become part of the security equation of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Any weakening of state authority over Somalia’s coastline or territory can create a vacuum that may be exploited by criminal networks, terrorist groups or powers seeking a foothold in this strategically important region.
Conversely, a stable and united Somalia capable of managing its borders, coastline and resources represents a positive force for regional stability and for protecting one of the world’s most important maritime corridors.
At the level of the Horn of Africa, Somalia’s unity is also an important factor in maintaining regional balance and stability. The region already faces political and border disputes, competition over ports and access to the sea, internal conflicts and multiple forms of external intervention.
Any challenge to Somalia’s territorial integrity could add another source of tension and create further opportunities for foreign intervention and rivalry, potentially turning Somalia into an arena for competing spheres of influence rather than a partner in achieving stability and development.
The dangers of fragmentation do not stop at Somalia’s borders. In a region as socially, politically and strategically interconnected as the Horn of Africa, any change in borders or balances of power can have consequences extending beyond the country directly concerned.
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Such developments could encourage other disputes or trigger new calculations involving borders, identities, ports and resources at a time when the region needs to reduce the causes of conflict rather than create new ones.
The world we live in today resembles a ship stranded in the middle of the ocean and battered by waves. Survival belongs to those who are strong, skilled and capable of cooperation, while those who waste their capabilities on disputes and internal conflicts may find themselves powerless when the storms intensify.
Every state has become primarily concerned with protecting its own interests, while international legitimacy and rules do not always command the same degree of respect they once did.
Power and national interest have become increasingly prominent in international relations. Territory, resources, strategic locations, ports and vital maritime corridors are now at the heart of many of the conflicts and rivalries taking place around the world. Somalia, with its location, resources and extensive coastline, is not removed from these calculations.
It would be a mistake to assume that internal divisions will remain isolated domestic matters, because every area of internal weakness can become an entry point for external influence or competing interests whose direction and consequences Somalis may not necessarily be able to control.
From this perspective, unity is not merely a political or emotional slogan; it is a strategic necessity for protecting the state and its future. Unity does not mean the absence of political disagreement, nor does it require everyone to adopt the same vision of governance and the administration of the country.
Rather, it means agreeing on national principles that should never become bargaining chips — foremost among them the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence of decision-making, and the protection of its resources and the interests of its people.
Somalis may disagree over power, elections, the constitution, the distribution of resources and the nature of relations between the federal government and the federal member states. These are political issues that can be negotiated and resolved through compromise and consensus.
The danger begins when political disagreements move from competition within the homeland to competition over the homeland itself, or when external interests become tools used by Somali actors against one another.
The storms sweeping across the region spare no one, and no part of Somalia can isolate itself from their consequences. Today, more than ever, we need vigilance from the Somali people, responsibility from political leaders and the ability to rise above narrow calculations.
Political gains change, positions come to an end and foreign alliances shift, but the homeland remains — and what it loses in a moment of weakness may be extremely difficult to recover later.
A united and stable Somalia is therefore not a gain for Somalis alone; it is a pillar of security for the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and international maritime routes.
At a time when alliances are expanding and competition over influence, resources and strategic locations is intensifying, unity and solidarity remain among the strongest tools available to peoples seeking to protect their homelands, sovereignty and future.
Defending Somalia’s unity, therefore, is not simply about defending a map. It is about defending the ability of Somalis to determine their own future and preserving a state capable of protecting its territory, waters and resources while negotiating with the world from a stronger position.
The more united and cohesive Somalia is, the better able it will be to protect its interests; the more divided it becomes, the more vulnerable its land, waters and strategic location will be to becoming bargaining chips in the calculations of others.
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Liban Abdi Ali is a Somali journalist and media professional who previously served as Director of Somali National Television and as Director of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister of Somalia.
The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dawan Africa.