The Father of the Ogad'en Somali Revolution: M.Dahir

[Jacaylbaro]

Looks like it is you, the 10 year old child sxb.

 

 

If you can't get what i said then blame your teachers ... not your parents of course.

[Abdinasir Kadawo]

You can't say it, can you? Just say it; "you are not the right clan for Hargeisa and therefore you are a sheegato" That is what you are struggling to say, isn't it?

 

To bring this Arab nonsense (markii geel loo heeso inaad goronyo u heesto) is just making you look fool. So brother, just say what is in your heart. Is that the reason I am a sheegato of Hargeisa?

[Jacaylbaro]

I'm talking about the citizenship here ,, that is the proper language not that of Somalia where "clan" is the measure.

[Kamaavi]

Political Background Of The O'gaden Somali Struggle

 

O'gaden is the land of hundreds of thousands of martyrs in the name of freedom

and justice. It is the cradle of revolutionary heroes as well as the centre

of Somali culture and heritage. It is situated at the junction between Ethiopia,

Somalia, Kenya and Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.

 

In the middle of the 16th Century, Ahmed Ibrahim, better known as Ahmed

Guran and his men fought with Abyssinian aggressors in order to avers

the latter's permanent threat to the land of the Somalis. After the defeat of

the Abyssinians, a European colonial power, Portugal, quickly came to their

aid. In the conflict that followed, Ahmed Guran was killed by Portugese troops.

However the precedent of external involvement at the expense of the Somalis had

already been set.

 

At the advent of the colonialist scramble for Africa, three colonial powers,

namely Great Britain, France and Italy, with clashing interests, simultaneously

invaded the Horn of Africa. Great Britain in pursuit of it quest to create

an unbroken link from Capetown to Cairo saw this region as merely another link

in the chain. France wished to extend her West African possessions to the

Red Sea. Italy had the intention of linking Eritrea with Southern Somaliland

thereby creating an Italian East African Empire. The objectives of Great Britain,

France and Italy were in direct conflict with each other making Abyssinia the

key for the execution of their objectives. In order to avoid military conflict

among themselves, the European powers each campaigned to win the friendship

of Abyssinian (Ethiopian) rulers. This lobbying effort included the supply of

large quantities of weapons and other military aid hence turning Abyssinia

into the most profitable East African market for European weapons.

 

After amassing a large number of relatively modern arms, Ethiopia was able

to conquer Harar in 1887 for the first time. This was seen as a stepping

stone for eventual Ethiopian occupation of O'gaden.

 

In 1896, an agreement was signed between Great Britain and the O'gadenia

chiefs which was thought to be a guarantee of O'gaden sovereignty. However,

the people of O'gaden soon realized that the partner in the accord, Great

Britain had no intention of living up to the agreement.

 

Great Britain continued to arm Ethiopia who had made it's intentions toward

expanding into O'gaden well known.

 

In 1897 Great Britain signed an agreement with Ethiopia in which it recognized

the Ethiopian claims on Harar which it had occupied a few years earlier.

This act appeared to be the beginning of a British retreat from the O'gaden

and eventual transfer to Ethiopia.

 

Finally on September 24th, 1948 Britain withdrew it's treaty of protection

over O'gaden and recognized O'gaden to be a possession of Ethiopia despite

never having been under the administration or physical occupation of the Empire

of Ethiopia.

 

This act was widely recognized by the people of O'gaden as a breach of the 1896

agreement entered into by Great Britain and the O'gaden Chiefs. It was undertaken

without consulting the leadership and people of O'gaden who are the sole possessors

of the right to self-determination in accordance with international codes, norms

and principles of justice. In addition, this action was taken by great

Britain after the issuance of the United Nations Charter and formal insertion

of the right of self-determination for all peoples who had not yet

achieved independence.

 

This 1896 agreement, which constituted the basic principle of British protection

over O'gaden, aimed at preserving the territory and peoples of O'gaden against

foreign aggression. Particularly from Ethiopia which made no secret of it's

intent to expand it's empire.

 

The agreement also plainly and implicitly stipulated the sovereignty

of the people of O'gaden over their territory. In essence, Britain had

recognized the transfer of a territory with which it had entered into

a treaty of protection, to an existing undemocratic empire which

had never administered or occupied it. The finalization of the transfer

occurred in 1954 after which Great Britain formally recognized O'gaden

and all the people within as subjects of the Ethiopian Empire.

 

The 1896 agreement of protection between O'gaden and Great Britain had been

completely shattered. The people of O'gaden now found themselves under the

occupation of an alien power at a time when much of Africa was on the verge

of breaking the shackles of colonialism.

 

It must be noted however that before the independence of the Somali

Republic in 1960, the struggle of the people of O'gaden was not separate from

other Somali people's struggles for Independence. At that period,

the O'gaden liberation struggle was

not intended for the liberation of O'gaden alone, but for the liberation

of all the lands inhabited by Somalis from the yoke of European and Ethiopian

colonialism. The Somali Dervish Liberation Movement (1895-1922)led by the

celebrated Somali liberation leader Sayid Mohamed Abdulla Hassan, fought

for more than two decades against all colonialists in Somali lands.

 

Upon the joining of British and Italian Somalilands in 1960 and the

creation of the Somali Democratic Republic. The people of O'gadenia had no

choice but to continue liberation struggle, hoping to someday free

themselves from the colonialism which had ended in 1960 for British and

Italian Somalilands.

 

In 1963, the O'gaden Liberation Front was formed with the intention of

continuing the struggle for self-determination and confronting Ethiopian

colonialism which had progressed into a settler colonialism in which lands

and property were confiscated from the local populations of O'gaden.

The OLF started a liberation war which promoted the idea of a "Greater Somalia".

This had the effect of creating a public perception which portrayed

the O'gaden conflict as a conflict between two states (Somalia & Ethiopia)

instead of a struggle for self-determination. The armed struggle which

was the only feature of the cause and it's vividity, became seasonal

and subject to the preparadness of the millitary of the Somali Republic.

Adding to this misrepresentation of the O'gaden cause was the dominance

of a "Greater Somalia" school of thought in the Somali Republic. What

followed was the creation of a armed front called the Western Somali

Liberation Front (WSLF)which was trained and financed by the Somali

Republic. This had the effect of further portraying the O'gaden

cause and a mere border conflict between two independent states while

side stepping the issue of the right to self-determination for the

people of O'gaden.

 

Throughout the campaigns of the OLF & WSLF, the people of O'gaden continued

to suffer. In addition to being occupied by Ethiopian colonialist,

they had to witness the hijacking of their cause for self-determination by

the Government of the Somali Republic and it's transformation into a

boundary dispute.

 

After the withdrawal of the Somali Army from O'gaden in 1978, the sincenre

national forces in the O'gaden exerted efforts to correct the course of

the WSLF from within and change its approach. The 1981 WSLF conference

was the peak of these efforts to transform the WSLF. At this conference

a Secretary General support was elected with the mandate of changing the

course of the WSLF, but he remained in office for only one year after

the Somali Government rejected his style and suspended financial aid

to the front completely.

 

Hence, the people of O'gaden sought to establish an truly independent vanguard,

to correctly represent the interest of the people of O'gadenia in

their justified quest for self-determination. The result of this effort

was the creation of the O'gaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)

on August 15, 1984 in response to public desire for a truly independent

voice for the liberation of O'gaden.

[Belial]

Thanks for posting it. Farancab.

[NGONGE]

Originally posted by Abdinasir Kadawo:

You can't say it, can you? Just say it; "you are not the right clan for Hargeisa and therefore you are a sheegato" That is what you are struggling to say, isn't it?

 

To bring this Arab nonsense (markii geel loo heeso inaad goronyo u heesto) is just making you look fool. So brother, just say what is in your heart. Is that the reason I am a sheegato of Hargeisa?

Wale JB waa bahal! He looks at a name and can work out what qabiil they are instantly.

[Jacaylbaro]

[Paragon]

^Waryaa nimankiinan reer Fakkadland inaga dhex baxa inagaa Soomaaliyi ahe.

 

Makhtul Daahir-na wuu yahay waa la og yahay, waa Geesi, gob gob dashay ah. Let alone his rebels, I will follow his order to the T if he gave them to me. Nimankaa xornima u dirirka ahna don't need the wax-kuma-tarnimada hiil ku sheegga ee Soomaali isheegga qarkeed la meereeysaneyso ee yaanan lagu aflagaadoonin.

 

These men are as welcome to Maakhir as they are welcome in their own homes. Anaa iri.

[Kamaavi]

Abu Maakhiri,

 

Ma la hubaa in caasimada Maakhir aad ku soo dhaweyn lahayd dhaawaca

ciidanka wadinaga xoraynta Ogad'en?

 

Taas haddii la idin ka helo idina gob baad tihiin.

 

Anaa ku iri.

[Kamaavi]

Ogad'en the land of hundreds of thousands of martyrs in the name of

freedom and justice is the cradle of revolutionary heroes

as well as the centre of Somali culture and heritage.

 

Ancient Ogad'en Day Martyrs & Legends:

 

 

In the middle of the 16th Century, Ahmed Ibrahim, better known as Ahmed

Guran and his men fought with Abyssinian aggressors in order to avers

the latter's permanent threat to the land of the Somalis. After the defeat of

the Abyssinians, a European colonial power, Portugal, quickly came to their

aid. In the conflict that followed, Ahmed Guran was killed by Portugese troops.

However the precedent of external involvement at the expense of the Somalis had

already been set.

 

 

Wiil Waal, Ab'same Sultan, lived in 16th century as a national hero who drove the last

of the Galla Kings From Jigjigga.

 

Wiil-Waal was actually a Gerad, although he's generally called Sultan

he lived before the arabic title was commonly used. Gerad was the second in the

importance-of-leader hierarchy.

 

Few among his stories are:

 

1.Wiil Waal And The Sheep's Gullet.

2.Wiil Waal And The Silver Ring.

3.Wiil Waal And The Wisest Man

 

Wiil Waal and his armies finished the Galla armies.

He is a man whom people still respect him and create

countless stories about the Somali legend.

 

The man created fear in the Galla eyes!

 

 

 

Sayid Mohamed Abdulla Hassan born April, 1856 in the north of Somalia died

December 21 1920 in Imi, Ogad'enia.

 

He was a warrior, poet, freedom fighter, islaaamic scholar and

charismatic leader fought for more than 20 years and led the armed resistance

of Somali Dervish Liberation Movement (1895-1922) against all colonialists

in Somali lands.

 

 

Modern Ogad'en Day Martyrs & Legends:

 

 

The O'gaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) was creaated

on August 15, 1984 in response to public desire for a truly

independent voice for the liberation of O'gaden.

 

ONLF and its sister UWLSF are the leading armed resitances agianst

the current Ethiopian regime.

 

 

Sheikh Ibrahim Abdalle Mohamed.

 

HIS MIDDLE LIFE AS A FREEDOM FIGHTER

 

He resigned from the educational assignments that he was holding for Somalia

and joined Western Somali Liberation Front in 1976, activating the military

and political philosophy of the then Somali-backed movement, WSLF,.

He was sent to Abu Dhabi in 1981, as a diplomatic representative

for Western Somali Liberation Front.

 

After the sheer military and political abortion of WSLF as a result of the

direct military intervention of Somali armed forces, sheikh Ibrahim

co-founded Ogad'en National Liberation Front in 1984.

 

In 1991, he was elected the chairman of ONLF and he had been holding that

post till 1998.

 

February 1994, Sheikh Ibrahim narrowly escaped from an assassination

attempt by Ethiopian battalion based in Warder. He was defended by the

people of Warder with the help of ONLF fighters scouting him, and, many

Ethiopian soldiers and almost 100 civilians from Warder died because of him.

 

It was reported that Sheikh Ibrahim took part in some of the deadliest armed

confrontations between ONLF battalion and Ethiopian garrison in the

war-torn Ogade'n. Some tidings said that he acted field commander in

the front line to give his soldiers moral support.

 

HIS PERSONALITY

 

Sheikh Ibrahim was a charismatic born-leader with adamant political

objectives. He was an outspoken Islamic scholar and a profound patriot

who believed in death for the sake of his country and in the defense

of his Islamic belief. He was an honest and God-fearing man. He was a great

ideologue yarning for Arab unity and Somalis nicknamed him "The pro-Arab

campaigner in the Horn of Africa." He was a confident and firm

freedom-fighter longing for the martyrdom of his targeted mission under any circumstance.

 

My first and last meeting with him in Khartoum by the end of 2006,

I put the following question to him, "Ethiopia has got one of the

strongest armies in Africa and your fighting with it prolonged

the suffering of the Ogad'en citizens. Are you capable of vanquishing

this powerful and regular force? If not so, why don't you negotiate

with the government, Ethiopia?" Sheikh Ibrahim smiled and replied

to me, "My NO TO ETHIOPIAN COLONISATION is stronger than the

strong armed forces that you mentioned. We have gallant and stronger

fighters than theirs, and, we are ready to fight them to the end till

they peacefully withdraw from our homeland - Ogad'en. Our brave and

patient people can't accept the oligarchic colonial rule of the

up-starts - the minority Tigtay, under the despotic and autocratic

instruction of the callow leadership of Mr Zenawi."

 

He Died 24 June 2008

 

 

Dr Mohammed Sirad Dolaal

 

On Saturday, 17 January 2009, Dr. Mohammed Sirad Dolaal was killed by enemy

fire while he was carrying out his duty: defending the people and

the land he loved the most.

 

The loss of freedom fighter is not new for Ogad'en people as thousands of

brave ogad'enis, young, old, men and women, paid the highest price, their

life, defending their dignity, freedom, families, communities,

property and country throughout the last century.

 

Many more thousand of Ogad'en people, from all walks of life will sacrifice

their life for their god given land.

 

[Sir-Qalbi-Adeyg]

^ Oga'den martyrs and hero's, are we talking about the clan or region?

[Abdinasir Kadawo]

oga'den means the clan, oga'denia means the region, i guess.

[Kamaavi]

Originally posted by Sir-Qalbi-Adeyg:

^ Oga'den martyrs and hero's, are we talking about the clan or region?

Sorry guys it is about Ogad'en/ia the home of rich and bueatiful land, not the clan. But if any one wants to debate that region I am more than happy to debate with them.

 

Have a good day.

[Jacaylbaro]

So everybody who fought Ethiopia was from that region including Ahmed Gurey ? ,,, Hmmmmm

[Kamaavi]

Any one who fought the Abyssinian aggressors in order to keep that land free from them is that land's hero, regardless of his origin.