Victory !

[RedSea]

Mogadishu, Somalia (HOL) - Thousands of jubilant Somalis have gathered in Mogadishu’s main soccer stadium to celebrate the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia.

 

The gathering which was organized by religious leaders in the city took place after Friday prayers. Thousands of people of all ages attended the gathering. Among the speakers at the gathering was Sheik Bashiir Ahmed Salaad who is the chair of the Reconciliation Committee. He asked the people in the gathering to thank Allah for the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops and added that it is only with the blessing of Allah that Ethiopian troops left Somalia and that no single group can claim sole responsibility for the victory.

 

Sheik Bashiir thanked all those who participated in the struggle against Ethiopian occupation and sent condolences to the families of those who died in the struggle and wished speedy recovery for those who are wounded.

 

Sheik Mohamed Nuur Baaruud who is also among the religious leaders of the city also spoke and said that yesterday which is when Ethiopian troops left Mogadishu has been named as “Victory Day” and asked people to praise Allah and repent. Sheik Baaruud also said that the people of Somalia have participated in expelling Ethiopia from Somalia either through direct involvement in the fighting or through financial and expertise contribution.

 

Sheik Baaruud added that the Somalia people have been subjected to war for a long time as result of their desire to practise Islam and said that the ultimate solution for Somalis lies in the implementation of Islamic Sharia and the election of a government that will implement Islamic Sharia.

 

Sheik Baaruud was followed at the podium by the chairman of ****** clan elders Mr. Mohamed Hasan Haad who said that Somalis need to practise Islam, to be grateful to Allah, to forgive one another and compromise with one another.

 

Mr. Haad added that Somalia’s problems resulted from lack of power sharing and warned against repeating the same experience in the future. He asked Somalis to cooperate and respect one another. He said that Ethiopian troops were able to invade Somalia because Somalis allowed them to do so. He also warned against further bloodshed and asked Somalis to resolve their differences through peaceful means.

 

The renowned Somali poet Mr. Abshir Nuur Faarah Ba’adle who is also a member of the Somali businessman community spoke on behalf of the Somali business community. He said that many Somali business men and women have left the country and went to Djibouti and other parts of the world for lack of security and that the business community feels it has been subjected to harsh treatment as a result of their support to the Union of Islamic Courts.

 

Poet Ba’adle read the following short poem at the gathering:

 

Gaaladii haddey naga baxday – If the infidels (invaders) have left

Guushu ina raacday – victory is ours

Guryihiina dega – peace has returned to our homes

Oo rabigey mahad ka gaarsiiya – and we have thanked Allah

Nin walba waxa uu galo – (let) each man’s contribution

Iyo wuxuu gudana geliya taariikhda – be recorded in history

Mujaahidiintii maalmahan – Mujahadeen, freedom fighters

Kala maroortayey midow – come together in unity

 

At the end of the gathering, senior members from the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) spoke at the gathering. They told the people to thank Allah for his blessings and that Somalis should not allow ignorance and short-sightedness to lead to the loss of their victory and the blessings Allah has bestowed on them.

 

UIC leaders also admitted that mistakes were made during the rule of the UIC that preceded the Ethiopian invasion and that all human beings err. They added that the important thing is to realize the errors, repent, and avoid making similar errors in the future.

 

The UIC leaders said that there will not be fighting among resistance forces and called on all sides to avoid any provocation that may lead to war.

 

The one theme that all speakers at the gathering emphasized is the importance of unity and avoiding further bloodshed among resistance forces and Somalis in general.