In an appalling affront to morality and a brazen betrayal of justice, Garad Jamac has sparked outrage by openly consorting with one of the most reviled war criminals in Somali history—a man whose name is synonymous with bloodshed and terror. This chilling encounter, captured on video and shared on X (formerly Twitter), reveals an alliance that mocks the very principles of accountability and human dignity.
The war criminal in question is a former Somali general Colonel Yusuf Abdi Ali ‘Tuke’ whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent Issaq civilians—victims of the barbarity unleashed during Siad Barre’s brutal dictatorship. Recently deported from the United States after a decades-long legal battle, this man has become a symbol of the atrocities that tore through Somaliland in the 1980s. His heinous legacy includes commanding massacres, personally executing civilians, and orchestrating the burial of countless victims in unmarked mass graves—most notoriously in Gabiley.
Yet, despite this horrifying history, Garad Jamac has chosen to embrace this criminal, casting aside the pain of survivors and the memory of those who perished. The disgraced general, once discovered working as a parking lot security guard in Toronto during the early 1990s, has now returned to the land he ravaged.
Instead of facing the rejection and condemnation he deserves, he was met with a warm welcome from Jamac—a man who purports to be a leader of the people but has now revealed allegiances that defy comprehension.
This is not merely a meeting; it is a grotesque statement of shared values and priorities. By standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a man convicted of crimes against humanity, Garad Jamac has sent a chilling message: that justice, accountability, and the sanctity of human life mean nothing. His actions are a slap in the face to survivors, grieving families, and communities still haunted by the horrors of Siad Barre’s regime.
The symbolism of this alliance is as clear as it is horrifying. It reduces the progress of Somaliland to ashes, tarnishing the struggle of a nation striving to emerge from the shadow of dictatorship and bloodshed. Garad Jamac, a figure who should embody hope and leadership for the people of Sool and Sanaag, has instead aligned himself with the very forces that sought to annihilate innocent Issaq civilians in Somaliland.
This public fraternization raises urgent questions: What drives Jamac to embrace a man whose name is synonymous with genocide? Is this an attempt to whitewash the crimes of the past and preserve the toxic legacies of a regime that inflicted untold suffering on Somaliland?
For the survivors of Gabiley and the broader Somaliland community, this spectacle is nothing short of betrayal. Their pain, their resilience, and their quest for justice have been spat upon by a leader who should champion their cause, not consort with their oppressors.
The implications of this alliance are dire. It undermines the hard-fought gains of Somaliland’s pursuit of justice and reconciliation. It sets a dangerous precedent that war criminals can find refuge and camaraderie among the very leaders who should shun them.
History will judge Garad Jamac harshly. His decision to stand with a war criminal is a stain on his character and a dark mark on Somaliland’s path to healing. This shocking betrayal must serve as a rallying cry for all who believe in justice and accountability. The people of Somaliland deserve leaders who will honor their sacrifices, defend their dignity, and confront the sins of the past—not leaders who embrace those who sought to destroy them.