somaliland.net
The Miracle Story of the Century;
Posted to the web Jul 09 2008, 21 18
Jul 09 2008 - The : Unmindful is under God's Custody: ( Sirma qabe Alla u sahan ah)
The Rebirth of Somaliland
Location: The Republic of Somaliland (Ex-British. Somaliland Protectorate) is located on the horn of Africa sharing borders with Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Area; 67,980 square miles or 176,000 square kilometers
Population: 2.5 to 3 million people
Religion: 100 % Sunni Muslim and followers Al-Imam Al-Shafi doctrine
1. DURING THE DARK AGES
During the uncivilized ages, the culture of invasion and plunder was active across the country. Hit, Run, and revenge taking acts were actively in force across the country. Hundreds may die for an individual shot dead by another or a girl claiming a man from X tribe insulted her. The rule was in the hands of tribal leaders representing their tribe in all negotiation and agreements. Even in the modern democracy the roles of tribal leaders, Aqils, Chief Aqils and Sultans are indispensable. This is why Prof. Ali Marzrui defined Somaliland as "Africa's best kept secret a challenge to the international community"
2. MIDDLE AGES
During Ottoman Empire Egyptian army was ruling Somaliland in the years 1882 to 1884. However when Al Mahdi movement started in Sudan, Egyptian army moved to Sudan under British Egyptian treaty. It is after this evacuation that British landed Somaliland.
THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH RULE FROM 1884-1960
Following the departure of the Egyptian army, the British took a chance and entered a "treaty" with tribal leaders: The terms of the treaty included:
1. The signing of the treaty will take place on Board of your ship not on our soil.
2. That you will leave our country when we ask you to leave.
3. That your wives should not give birth in our country.
4. That you have to keep socially distant from our society and there should no intermingling with our native society.
Evolution of Colonial Rule
Based on the above treaty the British colonial rule started governing under the name " of British Somaliland Protectorate" ..
1. 1887-1898 the colonial administration was attached to India that was also a British colony.
2. In 1988 colonial administration was shifted to the colonial office in London.
3. Berbera, the coastal port city, on the Red sea was chosen as the capital city of the country. However, Hargeysa was finally chosen as the capital city of the Country for its high altitude and mild climate.
4. In 1988 a treaty was concluded between British, French and Italian colonial powers to divide the entire lands of Somalis among themselves.
5. In 1954 British annexed a large portion of Somaliland territory to Ethiopia under the name of " Houd and reserved area" This gift was meant to satisfy the King Haile Salase as a replacement for his request of an outlet to the red sea preferably the famous port of Zeila
FAMOUS CITIES
Zeila : A historical city overlooking the red sea was an ancient sea port throughout the ages dating back from 891. It was the headquarters for the regional trade between African and the Arabian Peninsula including slave trade business. Zeila was once a Religious centre for spreading Islam. Jaffar bin Abi Talib, leading the first Islamic mission to Ethiopia, took rest in Zeila for quite some time. Modern historian researchers found a mosque with two Qiblas' buried under the sand, which indicates that, the history of Zeila is much deeper than previously thought. Other unconfirmed stories reveal that crowning ceremonies of the Pharaohs Kings used to be held in the city of Zeila while Queen Cleopatra was ruling Somaliland. The country was known at that time as 'The land of Punt'. The ancient Egyptians also called Punt Ta netjer, meaning "God's Land". This designation did not mean that Punt was considered a "Holy Land" by the Egyptians; rather, it was used to refer to regions of the Sun God, i.e. regions located in the direction of the sunrise. These eastern regions were blessed with precious products, like incense, used in temples. The term was used not only in reference to Punt, located southeast of Egypt, but also in reference to regions of Asia east and northeast of Egypt, such as Lebanon, which was the source of wood for temples. It was also a source of other exotic product such as; gold, aromatic resins, African Blackwood, ebony, ivory and wild animals .
FAMOUS PATRIOTS
1. Ahmed Guray 1507 1543)_
Ahmed Ibrahim Al Ghazi or Al-Ghazali was well known as Ahmed Guray. He was a vigilant Somalilander and a warrior against the spread of Christianity in Somaliland. He carried out intensive attacks on Ethiopian Monarchs and inflicted them heavy losses. The main purpose of his fight was to let Islam spread freely in Ethiopia. Ethiopian forces were getting reinforcement from Christian nations while Ahmed Guray was in turn getting support from Ottoman Empire in Yemen. Ahmed Guray was a martyr in a major battle in 1544.
2. Ina Abdulla Hassan (1901 1921)
Sayid Mohamed Abdallah Hassan was a vigilant Somali Lander, well known as Ina Abdallah Hassan. He fought against the British presence in Somaliland. Born in the Houd and reserved area. He Studied in Mecca and was a religious leader and a talented poet.
Sayid Mohamed Abdaalla Hassan sooner he returned from Mecca recruited an army by the name of DARAWISH to fight against the British presence in Somaliland. At the out set the war lasted
nearly four years ( 1901 1904). A peace truce was reached in 1905. However, a major battle took place in 1913 where the British lost half of their men and equipments. Only then, the British took the matter seriously. In 1920 the British army, using Royal force in Aden, carried out air bombardment o Sayid's Darawish force and defeated them. Sayid Mohamed escaped to Ethiopia where he died in 1921.
BEGINNING OF THE END
Somaliland gained independence from Britain in June 26, 1960. About 35 commonwealth nations and Israel recognized Somaliland independence immediately. Strangely enough( knowingly or unknowingly) Somaliland politicians, and only after four days, rushed towards Mogadishu to declare unconditional unification with Somalia that gained its independence from Italy on July 1st, 1960. (Compare the loyality of educated politicians who rushed Mogadisho to offer the nation's sovereignty as a gift in 1960 to that treaty dictated by uneducated elders to the British in 1884 Ref: The history of the British rule from 1884 to 1960 )
Somaliland became a victim for its impractical noble emotion to unite the five Somalis (British Somaliland, Somali Italy, Somali French, Somali Ethiopia and Somali Kenya). The unconditional amalgamation deprived all the basic rights of Somalilanders legally, economically, socially and civil rights. (Somalilanders: were best known as "The UNMINDFUL NATION : MEANING POLITICALY IMMATURE NATION". In short the existence of the entire Somaliland sovereign state vanished.
1. The capital city was chosen to be Mogadishu and Hargeisa was left as suburb nevertheless 86% of the national budgetary income was generated by Somaliland.
2. All social wellbeing and industrial projects were promoted in Mogadishu and in the surrounding villages.
3. All business community and trade moved voluntarily/involuntarily to Mogadishu. Somaliland was evacuated and was left in doldrums.
4. Even the scholarships, promotions and social equality were indirectly banned from Somalilanders to become the unchallengeable right for "Mogadishaweans".
5. The ideal administrative system Somaliland inherited from the British (legal system, financial regulations , Banking systems and educational curriculum) were abolished and replaced by Italian system. The British System of schooling was leading students to pursue their education in anywhere in the globe while "Mogadishaweans" had no alternative but to go to Italy.
THE FIRST ATTEMPT FOR RESTORATION OF SOVEIGNITY
The frustrated nation, having realized that their politicians had betrayed them (knowingly or un-knowingly) considered the restoration of their sovereignty is nothing but a holy obligation. This feeling resulted in a military coup; lead by sand hurts graduate Lieutenant Hassan Abdullah Walanwal (Hassan Kayd). The coup failed and all of those who participated were sentenced to death though they were eventually given amnesty for fear of the situation to escalate further.
Starting from that date of the failed coup all Subsequent Somali governments put Somaliland nation under surveillance. Sufferings and oppressions reached climax during the reign of Mohammed Siyad Barre and Somalilanders decided to retain their sovereignty under any cost.
Somali National Movement (SNM) was founded in 1982.Most of Somaliland high ranking military officers began fleeing to join the national movement. SNM soon began hit& run targeted operations. The regime began horrifying the nation by committing mass killings in front of wives and children. Mass migration across the border began .This gave popular and potential support to SNM that carried out several attacks that inflicted heavy causalities on Siyad's soldiers. A full swing war broke out inside all cities followed by huge mass migration looking for a peaceful place. General Samater (listed as a war criminal) ordered for bombardment of main cities. 80% of Hargeysa's buildings were destroyed forcing people to run away from the city who were subjected to the same air raid lest people to cross the border. Average killings were estimated to be 500-1,000 in a single day. Simultaneously late General Farah Aideed, leading USC conquered Mogadishu, causing an immediate downfall of the regime forcing Siyad Bare to escape to seek hide in Kenya then to Nigeria in January 1991.
On May 18 1991, Somaliland proclaimed its sovereignty after a harsh struggle that lasted nearly thirty good years.
CASUALITIES
In my opinion, Somaliland lost not less than 150,000 lives in its war for restoration of sovereignty categorized as:
1. Those who died in the face-to-face battle.
2. Those kiled in groups and buried in mass graves. ( Un acknowledged detailed record available
3.Those killed on air raids inside their houses and outside of the cities while people were running looking for a secure place around the city or across the boundary.
3. Those who died in refuge camps for illness and hunger.
4. Those who died and are still dying in the minefields planted by ousted regime.
5. Many were killed or were let to die inside cells they were jailed.
OPPORTUNITY LOSSES FOR 48 YEARS (1960 2008 had Somaliland been a sovereign state
I think no human brain can judge the size of destruction, disaster, moral, material and human losses this amalgamation has brought to Somaliland's nation. Oppression and injustice count the major causes for the disappearance of blessings and the vanishing of all regimes. Therefore Opportunity losses and distruction for 48 years can never be measured in terms of money.
CONCLUSION
The ultimate aim readers will benefit from this article is summarized as :
1. That eighteen years (18) has passed since Somaliland restored its
sovereignty with the entire world turning its back to this nation.
2. That Somaliland nation from peon to the President are determined to endure all hardships for the sake of proving that Somaliland sovereignty is SACRED, VIABLE AND UNCHALLENGABLE
3. Given the level of peace and security Somaliland is enjoying, establishing well- to democratic institution, holding fairly and freely
4. Democratic elections will in no doubt let every nation to acknowledge this fact. The international communities should have no excuse, whatsoever, that may cause them to refrain to recognize Somaliland.
5. The reader will deeply understand the causes for unification and cessation.
6. That a man cannot bear to be bitten from the same hole twice.
7. That Somaliland was and will remain a member of the Arab league.
8. That war criminals, assailants of genocide and ethnic cleansing ( Dead or Alive) will soon be set before an international tribunal
9. That the two nations, Somaliland nation and Somalia, and their leaderships to hasten recognizing each other. It is through this bilateral recognition the two nations can peacefully live side by side.
One last word to Somaliland Nation:
Your enemies are lurking by and they should not be given the least chance for their ill feeling and disturbances. This becomes particularly true when all political differences were successfully sorted out and the nation is ready to go out for General elections. Somaliland's enemy will do everything against holding peacefully the forthcoming general elections. The whole nation should be vigilant and united against infiltration of their enemies from inside and outside of the country.
Gabay By: Hussein Ismail Yusuf (Member of the House of Representatives)
- Sirma Qabe allow sahana hoo Sugan amaankiiye
- Somaliland ay waxbadan saylad lagu taagye
- Haddii saatir kuu dhigay salaan sare ku geynaaya
- Oo Soo baxyee kaaha subax Dunida saameeyay
- Nin Ku siray nin seef kula dhacay iyo sumaca maadhiinka
- Ama tuug sanbiil ku ritay oo soof yar kugu doontay
- Iyo kuman safayn kuu galay oo sahanka kaa meershay
- Ninmba sumadda uu ku dhigtoo saaka kaa hleye
- Markii samirkii taagwaa dhintay ee suurta la afuufay
- Sur la jaray sakaar iyo wadnaa suugu kala jeexay
- Wixii saanad sheegaba markii layso sibir saary
- Ee soopdhka la isula yimee ee fiintu selalaysay
- Sama hariia iyo naar wixii dhamac la saydhaayay
- Sixir iyo silsiladii adkaa ee socodka kuu diiday
- Suryadii adkaatiyo Raggii saymo adag jiidhay
- Safkii nebi intii noqotayiyo suubani taga e
- Seetada raggii kaa jaroo Samir ku gaadiiday
- Maaantana cadaawaha sanqadha Kugu sadqaynaaya
- Ninba sumadda uu kugu dhigtuu Saaka kaa heliye
- Sooryiyo hadaad siin lahayd Derajo aan suulin
- Sed bursiimaday leeyihiin waa ku sugayaane
- Sareeyee ilaahban baryee Ha isku keen simo eh.
- Kua salaya rasuulay ducadu
samo ku aadaa ye
By: Hussein Ismail Yusuf (Member of the House of Representatives)
Author Name: Hussein Ismail Yusuf
Authors Location: Hageisa, Somaliland
Contact Author: husseiniy@hotmail.com
Fikrada halkan ku qoran waxaa ka masuul ah qofkii qoray oo ah Hussein Ismail Yusuf . The views published here are solely those of its authors Hussein Ismail Yusuf . and do not necessarily reflect those of Somaliland Net.
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