Contrary to the commonly held belief that the ongoing conflict in Somaliland and the Awdal region is rooted in clan dynamics, a closer examination suggests that deeper geopolitical and geological factors may be at play particularly relating to the East African Rift system. In the northwestern coastal area of Somaliland, near the historic town of Zeila, resides a population with strong cross-border ties to communities in Djibouti. Djibouti itself lies on a highly active tectonic zone part of the Afar Triangle making it one of the most geologically unstable regions in the world. Faced with the long term threat of land subsidence and increasing seismic instability, the Djiboutian leadership appears to be pursuing a strategy aimed at territorial expansion, potentially as a means of securing more geologically stable land. Reports suggest that elements of this strategy may already be playing out through incursions into Somaliland territory.
Looking ahead, the tectonic movements along the Rift Valley could have profound implications. Some geologists project that within the next decade or two, the region could witness the formation of a new sea, effectively creating a separation between Ethiopia and parts of the Horn of Africa. This would not only alter the physical geography of the region but could also drastically reshape national boundaries and political dynamics. In this context, the conflict in Somaliland should be understood not simply as a local or ethnic dispute, but as part of a broader strategic calculus driven by both geopolitical interests and the realities of a shifting earth beneath our feet.
Looking ahead, the tectonic movements along the Rift Valley could have profound implications. Some geologists project that within the next decade or two, the region could witness the formation of a new sea, effectively creating a separation between Ethiopia and parts of the Horn of Africa. This would not only alter the physical geography of the region but could also drastically reshape national boundaries and political dynamics. In this context, the conflict in Somaliland should be understood not simply as a local or ethnic dispute, but as part of a broader strategic calculus driven by both geopolitical interests and the realities of a shifting earth beneath our feet.
Zero principles
Leaving his Afar son to twerk for the Frenchies.
