Former royal family reduced to poverty as property row drags on

[NASSIR]

Former royal family reduced to poverty as property row drags on

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By Victor Obure

 

 

Sultan Omar Shuria may not have featured prominently in the history of this country, but his contribution in the northern frontier districts during the colonial days speaks volumes.

 

Unknown to many, the little known Sultan played a major role in stopping Kenyan Somalis’ plan to secede to Somalia Republic shortly after independence in the late 1960s.

 

The secession quest reached fever-pitch in the early 70s when locals staged one of the longest uprisings in the history of the country, dubbed the "Shifta war"

 

THE STANDARD

[Gabbal]

Unknown to many, the little known Sultan played a major role in stopping Kenyan Somalis’ plan to secede to Somalia Republic shortly after independence in the late 1960s.

I find it annoying when news articles do not do complete research in their writing.

 

The stopping of the joinment between the NFD and the Somali Republic was done illegally by the British government on the eve of Kenya's independence!

 

Because of pressure from the inhabitants of the NFD and the Somali government, the British colonial administration agreed to initiate a referendum to the Somalis concerning their future, i.e joining with the Somali Republic or being part of an independent Kenya. The Somalis overwhelming chose to join with their brothers in Somalia, BUT the British government chose not to honor their decision. The British government had invested tremendously in their colony and were very much keen on continuing their heavy involvement in Kenya after it had achieved independence. Jomo Kenyatta and other important figures were deadset against letting the NFD beakaway and as such lobbied heavily for its inclusion into the Kenyan state. The British government of course supported Kenyatta's demand, partly because they want to amend whatever beef they had during the Mau Mau revolt and another because it was completely obvious who would be the first president of an independent Kenya.

[NASSIR]

I never knew of this man until i read this article but it is quite supplementary to NFD's history. It surfaced after long legal tussle of who is the right beneficiary as to the multitude of wives and children that survived him.

[Coloow]

Royal family kulaha!!!!! This is the traitor family.

 

Horn, I agree 100%.

 

This is not a former "king" but a traitor who campaigned against the natural marriage between the somalis in the NFD with the rest. This "sultan" slept with the somali enemey (the madaxkorankor).

 

When the referendum was held in the 60:s almost every somali and the muslim sakuye and borana overwhelmingly said YES to joining somalia. It was only the christian/animist borana/sakuye and a few traitors (shuri & Co) who said NO.

[Gabbal]

When the referendum was held in the 60:s almost every somali and the muslim sakuye and borana overwhelmingly said YES to joining somalia.

It was because of the British government's betrayal in the NFD that the Somali Republic in the 60's had no ties whatsoever with Great Britain.

 

 

Caaqil I take it you are a Sijui man?

[Coloow]

LOL@ sijui. Sijui ma cudur dadka ku dhaca sxb? I am not a sijui but a shifta who feels the world is his home.

 

This story (the sultan) would increase our understanding on how the NFD became part of kenya. Unfortunately, due to the school system in Kenya, many Somalis from the NFD have never been taught about how it became part of an oppressing nation to which we do not have a common culture and religion with, A year before Kenya gained independence in 1963, on the 5th October 1962, a referendum was held. It was supervised by an independent commission that consisted among others of : G, Onyuke ( a Nigerian judge) and a Canadian general by the name of Bogert.

 

The referendum turned out to be a huge success for the pro-somali camp and endorsed by nearly 99% Somalis, 60 % of the sakuyes and Boranas. A day later, the british government and the Kenyan African national union (Kanu) announced that it would not respect the will of the people. The British government gave into pressure from KANU which saw the NFD as a future goldmine (which of course it is. Statistically, the NFD contributes more to the coffers of Kenya than it gets back in terms of investment. The infrastructure has been neglected.

 

Anyway on the 12th march 1963 a motion was table in the Somali parliament in Mogadishu to cut diplomatic relationships with Kenya and this was approved by 100%. Dr Sharmarke and his PM Egal went on a diplomatic offensive and to this end instigated the formation and birth of a freedom movement (the shifta). This war of liberation was supported 100% by Somalis throughout Somalia. However, the government support was dismal and consisted of massmedia, diplomatic support. On the 28th of October 1967, following the mediation of Julius Nyerere an agreement was signed between Kenya and Somalia which promised non-aggression.

 

In a sentimental speech to mark the socio-religion-cultural cohesion of somalis President sharmarke said:

 

"Our misfortunes do not stem from the unproductiveness of the soil, nor from a lack of mineral wealth. These limitations on our material well- being were accepted and compensated for by our forefathers from whom we inherited, among other thing, a spiritual and cultural prosperity of inestimable valueâ€

The teaching of Islam on the one hand and lyric poetry on the other. . . .NO! Our misfortune is that our neighboring countries, with whom like the rest of Africa, we seek to promote constructive and harmonious relations, are not our neighbors. Our neighbors are our Somali kinsmen whose citizenship has been falsified by indiscriminate boundary "arrangements". They have to move across artificial frontiers to their pasture lands. They occupy the same terrain and pursue the same pastoral economy as ourselves. We speak the same language. We share the same creed, the same culture, and the same traditions. How can we regard our brothersas foreigners?"

 

 

The shifta war and the aspiration for a divorce from the madaxkorankor did not end there however. Between 1967- 1991, the Kenyan government imposed martial law in Kenya and we witnessed massacres in Garissa, Wajir and malka re. Thousands perished, Somali women were raped- and the treatment of Somalis in Kenya as second-class citizens.

 

To date, the sacrifices made by our parents and the injustices at the hands of the madaxcanbuulo are remembered by almost all Somalis from the NFD. However, in recent years due to the civil conflict in Somalia and the disintegration of the Somali state into chieftains, tribal affiliates and regions, there are many who say the Somali dream as good as it sounded remains a dream. I do not share this pessimism .

 

 

LONG LIVE THE SHIFTA.

[Gabbal]

However, in recent years due to the civil conflict in Somalia and the disintegration of the Somali state into chieftains, tribal affiliates and regions, there are many who say the Somali dream as good as it sounded remains a dream. I do not share this pessimism .

I also do not share that pessimisn bro.

[NASSIR]

Sharmaake was a true leader.

[wind.talker]

^^

 

True that.

 

The Greater Somali dream (or pan-Somalism) has always been a dream. Somali leaders of past and present have never came up with a solid plan to implement the dream and make it come true. They've waged useless wars, caused the deaths of many, and managed to put us in an even worse position than the generation before us. Unity will come at a price - but before unity, we gotta have OUR country in order first. We gotta show other Somalis in Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti that we can take care of our own, stimulate the economy, achieve a measure of justice, etc.