Fahiima Quuje Receives Celebratory Welcome in Somaliland After Defecting from North Eastern State

HARGEISA – Former North Eastern State parliamentarian Fahiima Yuusuf Abdullahi Quuje has received a celebratory welcome in Hargeisa, where she was received by senior officials and hundreds of supporters, days after she renounced the cause of Somaliweyn and defected to Somaliland.

Quuje, a vocal supporter of the North Eastern State movement that ousted Somaliland forces from Laascaanood in 2023, was greeted at the airport by the Speaker of the Somaliland House of Representatives, cabinet ministers and other officials. The reception, which featured traditional dance and music, was a carefully stage-managed propaganda event designed to showcase the defection of a prominent figure from the rival administration.

“A Somaliland Girl Who Was Oppressed”

In her address to the crowd, Quuje described herself as “a Somaliland girl who was oppressed” and said circumstances had previously forced her to take a position different from the one she holds today. She claimed she had traveled to the conflict-affected areas to stand with her people, but had since become convinced that the best solution was to return to Somaliland.

She argued that the people of Sool should not be viewed as criminals and called for a fair understanding of what had happened in the region. She also compared the suffering in Sool to the destruction Hargeisa suffered under the Siad Barre regime in the 1980s, urging an end to divisive rhetoric that deepens social divisions.

“Everyone with a conscience should have done what they could, and when they returned, they came back to the Republic of Somaliland,” she said. “I want to make it clear that there is no criminal from Sool.”

A Propaganda Victory for Somaliland

Quuje’s defection is a significant propaganda victory for Somaliland, which has long sought to undermine the North Eastern State’s claim to the Sool region. Her high-profile welcome in Hargeisa is designed to send a message that Somaliland remains a viable alternative for those disillusioned with the North Eastern State administration.

For the North Eastern State, Quuje’s defection is a bitter blow. She was a prominent figure in the resistance movement and her decision to switch sides will be seen as a betrayal. The state parliament has already voted to strip her of her immunity and she faces charges of “national betrayal.” In her absence, the administration has limited options to hold her accountable.

The Human Cost of the Conflict

Quuje’s reference to the suffering in Sool is a reminder of the human cost of the conflict. The 2023 fighting in Laascaanood displaced thousands of people and left deep scars in the community. International humanitarian organisations have documented widespread displacement, food insecurity and lack of access to basic services.

Somaliland has long claimed the Sool region as part of its territory, while the Federal Government of Somalia and the North Eastern State administration insist it is part of Somalia. Quuje’s defection does not resolve the underlying dispute, nor does it address the grievances of the people caught in the middle.

Way Forward

Fahiima Quuje’s defection is a reminder of the fluid nature of political allegiances in the region, where personal ambitions and clan loyalties often trump ideological commitments. Her decision to switch sides will be celebrated in Hargeisa, but it will also deepen divisions in the Sool region, where many remain committed to the North Eastern State project.

As the Federal Government of Somalia continues its efforts to integrate the North Eastern State into the federal system, the underlying grievances that fuel the conflict remain unresolved. Quuje’s defection, while a propaganda victory for Somaliland, does little to address the deep divisions and human suffering that continue to plague the region.