Indeed. He was a man mountain. The crusade by the Egyptian UN SG Betros-Betro Ghali and the Tunisian SRSG Sahnouni were one which was like no other. They mounted an all out war against Somaliland both from Arab League, African Union (OAU then) and also US/EU etc. Somaliland still an infant without any major power supporting its causes, alone in this diplomatic war, And yet against all the odds President Egal took a tough stand and out right rejected any inclusion of Somaliland into Somalia's problems.
Thanks to those strong positions, no one can lecture Somaliland today.