The Latin phrase E Pluribus Unum — “Out of many, one” — is a world-renowned motto representing the preservation of Unity and Territorial Integrity. Its conceptual counterpoint, Ex Uno, Plures — “Out of one, many” — describes a single entity fracturing into various distinct parts.
The distinction between these two phrases symbolizes the clash between the sentimental defense of “unity” and the contagious disintegration at the heart of Somalia’s political discourse. Mogadishu’s centrifugal political framework cynically insists on the constitutional doctrine of “Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity,” while the centripetal forces in Hargeisa and Garowe retreat behind the sanctuary of self-determination and the disaggregation of power through a loose federal system, respectively.
A nation against itself
It is an undeniable truth that Somalis share a common language, a culture, and a face. Yet, they are cursed with a deep instinct for tribalism—a tribal sentiment so profound that it borders on race and racial segregation.
Without a deep dive, let me give you the historical context of the core issue. The seeds of Somalia’s disharmony were sown by its colonial powers, leaving behind societal fractures that remain unhealed to this day. The post-colonial civilian administration, born from the voluntary unification of British and Italian protectorates, did not bridge this fundamental chasm. Later, the military regime deliberately deepened communal friction to exploit it for survival. That is why Somalia has never truly cohered into a single, integrated nation-state.
The protracted civil war served only to destroy the remaining social bonds, leaving behind a legacy of bitter animosity between rival communities. We are now witnessing the final act of this tragedy. Successive federal governments have carelessly weaponized their authority to subdue dissenting Federal Member States. Mogadishu’s constitutional overreach and dogmatic tendencies for centralized control—treating shared sovereignty as a private mandate—have driven the last nail into the coffin of national unity.
Geopolitical Shift in the Region
For nearly four decades, our affluent Arab brethren have remained mere spectators in the corridors of our crisis. Far from offering a lifeline, they have weaponized their petrodollars to prolong our suffering, embedding proxies and double agents at the very apex of our political institutions during every electoral cycle. The corrosive impact of Qatari and Emirati illicit cash cannot be overemphasized; these petrodollars have turned our electoral process into a sordid marketplace where the highest offices are auctioned to the highest bidders.
The Israeli encroachment upon Somali sovereignty is the bitter harvest of negligence and negative interventions of our Arab brethren. Israel did not force entry; it simply stepped through a door left wide open by years of systematic exploitation and indifference.
Make no mistake: the sudden “scramble” of Saudi Arabia is not a strategic pivot; it is a cynical, opportunistic knee-jerk reaction. Should Israel choose to up the ante in our midst, it will do so with the absolute certainty that it faces no meaningful pushback from Arab or Muslim powers. None can respond to Israel’s fire with fire. We all know the truth: the mere specter of Israel induces the “fear of God” in the hearts of Arab and Muslim leaders. The chilling precedent has already been demonstrated in Gaza. In this geopolitical quagmire, Somalia will be left on its own—struggling, against itself.
The Realistic Way Forward
Somaliland’s desperate quest for recognition cannot be stopped by slogans or fear-mongering. At the dawn of 2025, it was the infamous MOU that traded land and sea for recognition; now, it is the invitation of Israel to establish a military presence at our doorstep for the same. Coercive policies deployed under the guise of national unity will inevitably push Somaliland over the cliff.
This moment demands a bold strategic shift. For mutual survival, both sides must make painful concessions:
Somalia must enter serious negotiations with the explicit aim of a negotiated settlement for separation.
Somaliland must move beyond colonial-era cartography, acknowledging ground realities and respecting the right of the people in the Northeastern regions (Sool and Sanaag) to determine their own destiny.
Puntland is another state where a vocal secessionist movement has recently gained momentum. Unlike other Federal Member States, Puntland possesses a unique political mandate rooted in its history and its constitutional architect—a reality that federal institutions and laws can no longer afford to ignore. This highlights a fundamental flaw in Somalia’s “one size fits all” federal model, which has failed to accommodate such distinctions. To stave off the rising tide of secession, the federal government must abandon its isolationist policies and initiate credible, high-level dialogue with Puntland before that state follows Somaliland’s lead to the exit door.
I leave it where I started: the motto of our founding fathers was E Pluribus Unum; but our current trajectory mirrors the dark opposite: Ex Uno, Plures. Let us be candid: the nostalgic insistence on “unity and territorial integrity” is not a mere strategic dead-end; it is, paradoxically, proving to be the very bane of our existence. Without de facto authority, sovereignty is legal fiction. Somalis do not need to be mere participants in external geopolitical posturing played out in their backyard; they need a realistic strategy for their own survival. For once, let us stay true to seeking Somali solutions for the problems of Somalia.
Said A Jama is a freelance political commentator and analyst covering the Horn of Africa’s evolving political and security landscape.
