In the aftermath of the devastating Waaheen Market fire, Somaliland's vulnerability within the international aid system has come under renewed scrutiny. Despite global sympathy and a pledge of $12 million from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), the reality is more complex. The funds were not Mogadishu's aid, but international development grants long allocated for Somaliland frozen since 2018 when the FGS unilaterally ended the Somaliland Special Arrangement. This decision, driven by fears of undermining federalism, severed Somaliland’s access to direct international assistance. As a result, the region despite its relative peace and stability remains disconnected from international banking, aid systems, and forums for development planning. Hargeisa’s private sector has sustained the economy for decades, but the fire has exposed deep cracks in this self-reliance, particularly the absence of insurance safety nets or accessible global funding.