Ethiopian deception

[Hagi]

Ethiopian Deception and The Ignorance of the Somali Leaders.

 

 

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta-alaa Said:

"Sanction is given unto those who fight because they have been wronged: and Allah is indeed able to give them victory" Surah Al-HAJ, Verse 39. (Udina Li Ladiina Yuqaataluuna Bi'annahum Dulimuu Wa'inna Allah Calaa Nasrihim La Qadiiran ).

 

"Truly, Allâh defends those who believe. Verily! Allâh likes not any treacherous ingrate to Allâh [those who disobey Allâh but obey Shaitân (Satan)" Surah AL-HAJ, Verse 38. Amen. (Inna Allaha Yudaafico Canilladiina Aamanuu; Inna Allah Laa Yuxibbu Kulla Khawaanin Kafuurin.)

 

 

Unless and until there is a greater understanding of the Ethiopian policy by the Somalia leaders, the Horn of Africa will continue to be riven by strife with resulting suffering of our people, loss of life and exodus of refugees. Louis Fitzgibbon (1982)- a firm believer in the concept of justice and in the causes of oppressed or forgotten people- said: many of those who think about Somalia at all consider it a free country, for they recall that the Europeans left over years ago, they forget that there was an African co-colonialist -Abyssinia. This means those who think Somalia at all is a free independent country they forget that Ethiopia still colonize Somali people and occupy their land with the help of foreign powers.

 

For a considerable time the western powers had taken a keen interest in the affairs of the Horn, which they regarded Ethiopia as a Christian Island in a sea of Pagans, and for centuries Ethiopia had exploited this claim to Christianity for political reasons. She capitalized fully on the religious factor in order to obtain the active support of Europe and further her colonialist plans against Somalis and other peoples. This psychological deception worked the Ethiopians as they sought to separate themselves from Africa and place themselves firmly in the European camp to take its share of the European colonialism in Africa. Ethiopia had never been slow to use this chance to bolster their various claims over the years and now is trying again, unsurprisingly, to position herself in the American camp taking advantage of the purely American crusade in the name of the global terrorism. It was along this artery of communication that Ethiopia was able to mask its deceptions and mislead the international views to request for aid, and most particularly, arms to dominate and slave the Somali people and other nations in the Horn.

 

Ethiopia has already colonize Somali people and not only remained on what rightly Somali soil but they have bolstered their occupation with the help of Europeans in the 19th century and Russians, Cubans, Yemenis and Libya in the 1970s and 1980s. Ethiopia subjected all kinds of inhuman treatment to the Somali people. Constantly, Ethiopian police and the military have been driven off their animals, the boys and girls taken as slaves and elder people killed or mutilated. The deception and atrocities against Somali people by Abyssinia is not something new. For instance, Dr Donaldson Smith, an American, who visited the Horn of Africa in 1894 exclaimed: We earnestly wish the Abyssinians as savages bearing arms against other poor defenceless Africans, should have such a drubbing that they could not forget it and try to extend their sway further. Let these good people who take an interest in uncivilised nations cast a thought on the black neighbours of the Abyssinians who are in the worst plight.

 

Also, Sir Alfred Pease, who visited Somalia in 1897 said: We (British) have prevented Somalis from acquiring arms and ammunitions and having deprived them of all means of self-defence. We have left the Somalis at the mercy of raiding Abyssinians who have no other employment than that of making raids on Gallas and Somalis.

 

Nevertheless, the question we have to ask ourselves is why Ethiopia has this enormous appetite to the Somali affairs?. It is very simple to answer; let us see briefly the history of the region.

 

 

The People of Somalia and Their Land. .

The Somaliland was controlled and ruled by the Somalis as many of ancient Greek and Roman chronicles describe. The best known work being The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea written about the year AD40 which attests to the independence of the cities visited by its author, and the democratic nature of Somali institutions. A century later Ptolemy (Egyptian astronomer and geographer who died 170AD) supported those views in his Geography. The Arab scholars such as the Al-Masudi (AD935), Al-Bakri (AD1067), Al-Idrissi (AD1154), Ibna-Batuta (AD1331) and Ibna-Khaldum (Late fourteenth century) all gave witness to a vigorous Somali culture; in particular Ibna Said (AD 1344), Ibna Batuta and Al- Idrissi all stressed that the Somalis were completely independent of foreign rule, and described their country as extending throughout the length of the Horn of Africa. The Annals of Oman, the Chronicles of Lamu and Pate, the anonymous authors of the Book of Zanj (Kitab al Zanji) and the Portuguese writer Joao de Barros had also mentioned the land and the independence of the Somali people. The effective rule of the Abyssinian kings was limited, ages up to the latter part of the nineteenth century, to the highlands areas of central Ethiopia, that is to say Amhara, Gojam, Northern Shoa and Southern Tigre. Thus before the 1880s, Shoa was the southern most province of Abyssinia- the now Ethiopia-, and illustration of this is contained in a letter dated 17 December 1878 from Johannes Meyer and Jacob Greiner, two German missionaries asked by King Menilik to solicit support for him amongst European Heads of States.

 

The Betrayal and the Partition.

The Berlin conference in 1884 known as the "Scramble for Africa" was the beginning of the Ethiopian deception and the betrayal of the Somalis. The scramble is generally thought of as being entirely European operation; but Ethiopia joined in the rush to create larger empires signing an alliance treaty with Britain. In 1886, the Britain entered into treaties with the Somali clans to protect their land. This treaty which is later been betrayed by the British Government, contained of three supplementary articles of the previous 1884-5 treaties. The treaty was signed for the Somalis by the Somali Clan elders and Major Frederick Mercer Hunter- the political agent for the Somali coast- representing the British Government.

 

Unfortunately, the British Government did not keep its promise to protect the Somaliland, but it has rather betrayed and gave away our land to our Ethiopian enemy. The British negotiations were carried out by Mr Rodd (later Lord Rennel of Rodd) as head of the British Mission to Menelik. On 14 May 1897 Britain concluded an agreement with Ethiopia, despite the treaties of protection of the Somaliland signed in 1884-5 and 1886, giving away parts of Somalia which had never hitherto been under Abyssinia control. But not everyone at the time agreed with what was going on, and Sir Alfred Pease, who visited Somalia in 1896-1897 commented on the agreement between Mr Rodd and Menilik …..to the consternation of all interested in Somaliland, Mr Rodd handed over to Abyssinia a large area of Somaliland including some of the tribes with whom we had entered into solemn obligation for their protection.

 

Again in 1904, Mr H. R. Fox Bourne, author of Civilization of Congoland, in a pamphlet entitled: The Story Of Somaliland referred to the 1897 Britain-Abyssinian treaty as: The scandalous betrayal of the Somalis who, having accepted British protection, were left the mercilessly dealt with by their Abyssinian enemies.

 

In February 1955 the British Minister of State for the Colonies admitted in the House of Commons, London: I think that in many ways the 1897 Treaty with Ethiopia was unfortunate, but it suffered from our limited knowledge of the Somaliland at the time and we must see it against a background of that knowledge and the expansionist tendencies of Ethiopia in 1897.

 

Thus, no wonder that history repeating itself as Ethiopia hijacked the Somali affairs in the peace conference in Kenya imposing its will and deceptions using Somali leaders loyal to her and benefiting the current situation of Somalia in the light of the campaign against international terrorism. Once again, the plight of Somalia and its people were left at the mercy of Abyssinia. It is not doubtful that Ethiopian survival depends on the Somalia's destruction because this is the only means that Ethiopia can have access and control our resources such as: our ports, minerals and livestock. Furthermore, Ethiopia has seen itself as the master of the Eastern and Central African countries in the New World Order Policy. As a representative of this policy in the region, Ethiopia can not accept a strong Somalia in fear of a challenge. It is not only Ethiopia will lose all that privileges, but as well she will lose the land, the Somali people and the other nations they seized and colonize if there is a strong united Somalia. This is abundantly clear in our minds and it is very obvious that a weak Somalia is the only shield that protects Ethiopian empire from a disintegration and major disasters. We have already seen the periodic famines, starvation and the upheavals inside the Ethiopian empire -the last and the only empire in this cotemporary world-. It is therefore nothing else can inspire Ethiopia's policies other than rotten imperial mentality, based on divide and rule, in order to survive,

 

What is the Solution.

 

There is only one solution of our problem and can save our land and its people. To unite against evils. To unite against all those, internal and external, who benefit and prosper under the destruction of our country. To go back to our minds and revive our senses to understand deeply the deceptions and the betrayals we have been subjected since the Scramble of Africa by different countries. There are already signs of hope and understanding in between some of our the Somali leaders. It seems they have been awakened up by the ever changing agendas, the disagreement and the different interests of those hosting or involved the peace conference, particularly the Ethiopians. In one hand Ethiopia is acting as an active member of IGAD who is honest about the Somali affairs, and the other hand supplying weapons and mines to some power-hungry murders to kill and maim our children, our fathers and mothers everyday.

 

Mohamed Ali-Nur Hagi

MSc Development Studies.

[OG_Girl]

hmmmmmm , i wouldn't bother to read all this , could u please summurize lil bit ?

 

Thanx

[Gabbal]

One of the most broad understanding articles of the habesh policy on our lands that I have had the pleasure of reading. I encourage Somali folks to read this and understand the implications that have happened, are happening, and will happen.

[AYOUB]

Horn, since you seem to like the article so much what sort of ACTION do you think is needed to implement what the writer calls 'the solution', especially the last sentence?

[Liqaye]

It was indeed an intreasting article.

Ayoub the solutions to this debacle that all somalis face are myriad, warranting a forum all to its self, please do not belittle brother hajis attempt at claryfing the situation to alot of somalis who might understand this issue only by heresay.

[Dhimbil]

Interesting perspective on the somali predicament!

[LANDER]

Has this article brought any new ideas?

I seriously doubt it. Stating known historical facts and combining them

with the classic manipulative argument of "good" vs. "evil" does very little

to serve the perceivably noble intentions of this author. So seeks to unite the somali

peoples by uniting us against a perceived common foe? I have heard this argument before, and coming from mediocre minds to say the least. I think just about any neo-nationalist can come up with these rather simplistic and naive "solutions", but the question is do they really understand the motivations and needs of all groups concerned? this author probably doesn't, and that is why I group him in the neo-nationalist category. They seem to think they understand the concerns and motivations of all somali groups (Somalilanders included) when they really don't. Therefore I think the author and the likes of him should try to understand what makes other somalis "tick" before they start hypothesizing about formulas for unity. From a somalilanders point of view I could put our views to them bluntly and shortly in the following sentence. The "enemy" to us in the short term, is anyone who strives for the demise of our state they be somalis, kenyans or habashi is of little concern. When peace, understanding, and unity (idealogically) is achieved among all somalis, only then will we worry about what territories are occupied by which imperial power in the region. But until that day, we will pursue our interests as the survival of our state depends on it.

[Hagi]

Thanks Mr Lander for the comment; but I doubted you fully understood my article. I dont see anywhere in this article I mentioned the unity of the Somaliland and Southern Somalia.

 

Let me try to shed a light if you willing to grasp the taste of this article. All my intention was to find a solution in our part of Somalia and not the Landers. However, the focus of this article is deeply concerned the Kenya Peace conference in which the Somaliland is not takeing part.

[AYOUB]

Liqaye

the solutions to this debacle that all somalis face are myriad, warranting a forum all to its self, please do not belittle brother hajis attempt at claryfing the situation to alot of somalis who might understand this issue only by heresay.

Liqaye I was just trying to get the meaning of phrases like 'unite against evil' from someone who is urging others to read and understand the article. Unite with who and against who exactly? What does the he want to be done about IGAD and Ethios in general. We all know what Ethios are doing, the question is what do you DO about it?

[Che -Guevara]

Hagi.....Ethoipia is simply taking advantage of the ********* of the so called leaders, and they understood somali leaders are indiffirent to the needs of Somali. If ethoipia was in our situation we probably would have done da same. They will continue supplying arms to the warlords. Southerners must realise that we are nearing really critical stage, and something must be done to restore somali statehood. No conference held outside Somali proper is going to bring any solutions. In any venue outside Somalia, there will always a third party pushing for their interests first, and the issues facing the Somalis will be second. N Any goverment formed must institute social changes. Past wrongs must corrected. Only attainment of peace won't solve our deep divisions and problems. Of coarse, Mogadisho must be secured for any goverment to function at all.

 

As for our relationships with other somalis, we should stop making claims to lands we don't actually inhabit. The south has enough natural resources, agricultural lands, a long coast line, and the bulk of the somali population. We need nobody. We should welcome who those sincerely believe in da unity of all Somali people, and Say Adios to those that don't believe in Somalinimo. Obviously, we should help those Somalis under imperial rules. If they ever gain independence. They should given the choice to go their own separate way.

 

VIVA SOMALIA

 

Later Nomads

[Baashi]

Ethiopia has been shoring up its men in Bossaso, Hargeisa, Mogadishu and Baydoba and in some cases sent its Tigrey Forces across the border under the pretext of the war on terrorism. It has become a ‘King maker’ in more than one: providing logistics and armament to warring factions, representing its allies in the regional and international organization/forums etc. Like all tribal communities, Somalia is deeply divided by fierce clan rivalries (in this context: struggle over the spoils of the State and control in future government is the end result of this rivalry). And Ethiopia is taking advantage over our predicament. Saying that fact aloud is, you would think, educational if anything.

 

Granted foreign interventions, be Habasha or Arabs, are not the root cause of our malaise. Negative tribalism is. This negative tribalism manifests itself in the form of blind allegiance to warlords, and unexamined conviction in regionalism, chauvinism, and separatism as the only practical solutions.

 

Ethiopia and Egypt’s hidden hand in our political landscape and their success in stirring the tribal pot is an indication, if anything, of how deep clan animosity run and how much we Somalis distrust each other.

 

Having said that, regionalism in the case of Puntland and separation in the case of Somaliland are positive but temporary step in normalizing Somalia as long as they do not insist in getting unreasonable lion share of the supposedly power-sharing scheme in the future government. The vision: “building blocks” is a deliberate effort to encourage grass-root bottom-up approach to solve this nomadic puzzle known as clan politics. The hope is all factions will throw themselves in this lot - “recovery Zone”. That has not happen and this approach is not embraced so far by all parties.

 

Ethiopia is not a peace loving neighbor but a bullying agent whose military muscle served to tip the delicate and important tribal balance to its friends. If Hagi's piece amplifies that fact for all to hear, then more power to him.

 

Finally, our conception of the ‘State’ and ‘Government’ need to be re-examined. The difference between the two is very important. Those who understand this difference would come to terms the fact that subjects of any State need justice and freedom and the absence of these two necessitates the removal of the government not the absolvement of the State. Grievances are created by governments and the systems they put in place. Removing these governments and changing unjust systems is the only genuine solution I know.

[Baashi]

To answer LANDER's challenge for what he termed a 'neo-nationalist' misunderstanding of the needs and motivations of "other" Somalis, I take the trouble to delineate the facts as I understood it.

 

The motivations and needs of all concerned groups are known to many and understood by all. The issues on which Somalis are divided are few. Their attitudes toward each other and toward their social system and political order are defined by lineage segmentation and clan kinship, and continuously shifting clan alignment and it is hard to dissect it in this post.

 

The needs of ordinary Somalis, wherever they are, are peace, security, justice, freedom, and safety net. Regardless of their tribe, past grievances, or who colonized where, they will welcome a system that guaranties these basic amenities. The motivations of the so-called leaders are securing a dominant role in any Somali government for their tribe. Ambitious clannish elites will take the helm of the leadership of all Somalis if possible; will form autonomous safe-havens for their kinship or even separate when necessary – this is the rule of thump!

 

What makes “other” Somalis tick is not a mystery. It is a self-absorbing, and at times haughtiness, pride in their clan identity. There is nothing wrong with Somali character. It is the manipulative leaders who are well financed and who are saving no effort to appeal this known weakness – negative tribalism. Ideology, religion, ethnicity, and class are not among the issues on which Somalis are divided. The root cause of some of our malaise started long ago by Barre who incited and inflamed clan rivalries to divert public attention from the problems of his increasingly opressive regime.

 

To remove the military junta was right thing to do. To absolve the State on the grounds of grievances done by government that no longer exist or worst on the grounds of who colonized what part of Somalia is a travesty of freedom.

 

The contention that former British Somaliland is same as the present breakaway Republic of “Somaliland” is very misleading statement. The former British Somaliland met the fate Somali State had met – it has simply broken into its clan constituents. In other words, if Somalia is divisible because it cannot and will not agree the form of government it wants or the distribution of power to its constituent clans the same can be said the former British Somaliland. In fact the formation of the autonomous provincial state of Puntland puts to rest the question of who really wants to secede and why?

 

Granted the united Somalia is not on the horizon for the near future. Not because of the wisdom and rationale behind the unity is flawed or impractical but because clannish elites, not the file and rank of their constituents, are not ready to compromise for the sake of common good nor they can imagine the possibility of having a government in which the system of the governance is more important than the characters who may occupy in short period of time.

 

I might not know what to do exactly now or how to bring about a revolution that can deliver the changes that are necessary to realize functioning and inclusive Somali State in which rights of all its subject are respected but I know LANDER the nomad and the thought process he exhibits in this forum are wrong, unreasonable, and dangerous. I say this because if his vision of Somalia is to be realized one has to concede the monumental implications of the notion of absolving existing State entails. Not only any tribe with slightest grievances is entitled to exit from the womb of the State but also the disputes inherent in border demarcation and the balkanization of the horn will ultimately lead security dependence on the regional powers for the survival of newly created “Bantustan” clan fiefdoms.

 

Patience is in order! lets have little hope, let ‘them’ try little more perhaps harder than before.

[Hagi]

I would like to thank all Nomads, particularly the Horn Afrique, Ayoub ,Liqaaye, Illmatic, Che-Guevara, Baashi for the time they give this article and their valuable views and comments.

 

On the other hand, to come to my point, we the Somalis, not all of us, but many that I am one of them, we always short about to describe a problem and understand before we jump to find a solution. For this reason I am attempting today with your contribution and your help to change that and try to research the real problem of Somalia.

 

The title I would like to put on the table is : Is The crisis in Somalia one stemmed from external? Is it a problem of ethnicity? Is it a problem of faith and ideology? Or is it an economic problem “survival”. Saying to understand the problem before we seek a solution, I do believe if the international community and we the Somalis would have complete understanding about the crisis in Somalia I am sure we would find a lasting solution. But if we don’t know what the problem is how can we reach conclusion and make decisions. It is the same as a medical doctor trying to cure a patient while he hasn’t got any idea of the disease. You can not cure a disease that you can not diagnose.

 

thanks to all nomads who love and die for their country.