Please - Sign the Petition And Save Somalia.

[guraad]

i GUESS THE HISTORY IS REBEAING IT SELF , THE CHILDREN OF BRITISH ARE NOW TRYING TO HONOR BRITISH TRYING TO CREAT NEW BRITISH SOMALI LAND , I CAN SMELL NEW WAR COMING UP LETS GO BACK TO HISTORY, HERE IS HISTORY OF PEOPLE OF SOOL(DRAWIISHS).

 

 

Given the frequency and virulence of the Ethiopian raids, it was natural that the first pan-Somali or Greater Somalia effort against colonial occupation, and for unification of all areas populated by Somalis into one country, should have been directed at Ethiopians rather than at the Europeans; the effort was spearheaded by the Somali dervish resistance movement. The dervishes followed Mahammad Abdille Hasan of the puritanical Salihiyah tariqa (religious order or brotherhood). His ability as an orator and a poet (much-valued skills in Somali society) won him many disciples, especially among his own Dulb.ahante and Og.aden clans (both of the Daar.ood clan-family). The British dismissed Hasan as a religious fanatic, calling him the "Mad Mullah." They underestimated his following, however, because from 1899 to 1920, the dervishes conducted a war of resistance against the Ethiopians and British, a struggle that devastated the Somali Peninsula and resulted in the death of an estimated one-third of northern Somalia's population and the near destruction of its economy. One of the longest and bloodiest conflicts in the annals of sub-Saharan resistance to alien encroachment, the dervish uprising was not quelled until 1920 with the death of Hasan, who became a hero of Somali nationalism. Deploying a Royal Air Force squadron recently returned from action in combat in World War I, the British delivered the decisive blow with a devastating aerial bombardment of the dervish capital at Taleex(SOOL NEAR lAASCAANOOD) in northern Somalia.

[Gediid]

Originally posted by OG_Moti:

ok this is where i get personal... forgive me dear nomads but i will try hard to be polite...

 

 

1. nothing in somaliland, all the green and farms are in south not to mention animal resources or what is left of, somaliland is a dry land how would people survive, beside that eithopia has a big eye on somaliland and will eventually take control if we dont do something about it...

 

 

 

 

OG Hope this puts to rest your dry theory of Somaliland.This just shows your lake of knowledge of an area that you all talk about but have no idea of .....

 

Originally posted by OG_Moti:

conclusion

i suggest somaliland stays the way they are and over come thier tribal differences with negotition rather than power and no matter what, never deal with eithopia.. "difficult" but possible...

OG what tribal differences are you reffering to here.We have passed that stage long ago saaxiib.This above paragraph waa simple disinformation of the innocent folks in SOL

[BN]

Gediid,

 

You know very well those pictures, from an aid workers blog A Taste of Africa , are of the FLASH FLOODS IN NORTHWEST SOMALIA. One person lost their life as well. There are flash floods and seasonal rivers in Puntland as well.

 

As for tension between tribes you only have to look at the recent gunbattle at hargeisa airport which led to one death, several injured and damage to property[airplanst].

 

Or maybe the thoughts of a recent vistor to the NW:

 

______________________________________________________________________

 

"Scams & Warnings

 

Burao is the second largest city in Somaliland. It is very flat and spread out and is the main livestock market area for Somaliland. You definitely feel like you've crossed some imaginary border[imaginary country ends here] as you see civilians with automatic weapons and the atmosphere is not quite as friendly as it is in the rest of Somaliland[Read:Hargeisa/Berbera]. It is very unwise to even be seen with a camera on the streets here as you could get arrested and/or have your film confiscated for reasons unknown to you."

Dave Dissette, Canada (May 03)

 

Civilians with automatic weapons walking the streets?!?! Where is this xamar?!?! The Hargeisa government doens't even control Burco and they claim lands east of it. Funny, I thought secret arrests and confiscation of property was reserved for locals....my mistake

 

"Also the Secret Police will find you quickly here so it's probably best to be in the process of looking for the police station when they do."

Dave Dissette, Canada (May 03)

 

Secret police?!?! I guess Riyaale hasn't lost his touch after all...

 

 

"As a tourist your whereabouts are monitored. When you arive in any place it's a good idea to report to the police station."

Dave Dissette, Canada (May 03)

 

Another sign of the revitalized Siyaad Barre dictatorship in the NW

 

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/letters/afr/som_pc.htm

[India]

I have given up on this site becuase it became apparnt to me that the admin where indeed no other than Puqlanders themsleves and thus this is no "free and fair" forum. But need to say a couple of words on :

 

 

Guraad,

 

Since you are advocating for war...please tell me who you plan to go war with?

 

And if god forbid, there was indeed war between arti and Isaks, who do you think will have thier asses kicked? give you a hint it wont be the isaks.....history alone attests to this. SO please be wise like your elders back home and be grateful for the mercy we have shown you time and time again.

 

Bari, taking things out of contest is really not a great art. There are no weapons in Burco well apart from the odd Budh!

 

Somaliland forever,

 

 

On the above petition, desperate is understatement here! And then you all say we are not crying after Somaliland.

 

 

OG Moti,

Stick to chasing little girls on the net. That Somaliland has never need SOmalia. Indeed we build and kept Somalia togther. Without us there will never be SOmalia....just look at the state of play now. So please keep your naive opinions to yourself.

 

Peace

Angle@ Somaliland

[India]

LONLEY PLANET:Somaliland

 

Visas, Embassies & Border Crossings

You need a Somaliland visa for Somaliland. A Somalia visa is not accepted. You can get a Somaliland visa in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). I don't think any other country issues one. In Addis, you have to find the Somaliland liaison office. Phone is 63-59-21. Find the Awraris Hotel, which is across the street from the St. Gabriel Hospital. Follow the dirt road that runs down the side of the Awraris Hotel for 200 metres, turn right and continue another 200 metres. The office looks like a large house and sits on a corner on the left side of the road. There is no flag or other distinguishing marking indicating the office. Look for doormen. The visa is 250 Ethiopian Birr (US$30) and is issued on the spot. It's good for 1 month. As Somaliland is not recognized by any other nation, no foreign consulates or embassies exist.

The land border between Djibouti and Somaliland has been closed for sometime now. The border between Jijiga (Ethiopia) and Hargeisa seems to be opened and closed sporadically. Recently it has been closed due to a customs dispute. Check before you try this. The easiest way to get to Somaliland is by air. There are flights 3 times a week to and from Djibouti. You can't get a Somaliland visa in Djibouti and you can't get a Djibouti visa in Somaliland. So you'll have to arrange that before you get there. You can get a Somaliland visa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and there are flights to Hargeisa via Dire Dawa (Ethiopia) 4 times a week. Any travel east into Puntland or Bosaso will require a Somalia visa.

Dave Dissette, Canada (May 03)

 

The overland border crossing from Somaliland to Ethiopia is easy: at the border post on the Nabadeed - Jijiga road the soldiers (bored out of skull and excited to see a strange passport) just check that you have an Ethiopian looking visa. Once in Jijiga, for a few extra birr the bus driver will take you to the immigration office, where the stamp is a breeze.

Kari Eloranta, Finland (Jan 03)

 

 

Travel Tips

Most, if not all the people are Muslim. So all the usual social conducts apply. Foreign women should dress accordingly (arms covered, no shorts). Foreign men should wear long pants as you never see Somali men in shorts (except if you're swimming in the ocean in Berbera). Don't eat with your left hand. Be careful photographing women or speaking to them. Although a thumbs up is a sign signifying that everything is OK, in certain circles it means something very derogatory, so you might want to refrain from using it.

Everyone in Somaliland speaks Somali. English and French are also widely spoken. Everything is written in the Roman alphabet. In Somaliland, if it's written with an 'X', it's pronounced a throaty "gh". Since many people have lived abroad during the troubles and have returned home now that it is safe, a variety of European languages are spoken.

 

There are a couple of banks in Hargeisa, none however are open to the public. 'Money Changers' are found in all the towns and villages. They can be found in exchange shops or just sitting on the street under umbrellas in front of chicken wire cages packed solid with shillings. Their rates are all identical. Traveller's cheques are useless. US dollars are best but in Hargeisa many currencies can be changed including Euros and even Ethiopian Birr. It's best to change a small amount at a time because, if you change US$100, you'll end up with a backpack full of notes.

 

There maybe the possibilities of mines in certain areas. Check with locals before you go hiking. If you go hiking bring plenty of water, as even in the winter it can get really hot around midday. Las Anod in the south is off limits to foreign travellers.

 

"Qureh" means breakfast, "Quado" means lunch and "Asho" means dinner. Traditionally, breakfasts usually consist of fried liver, heart or kidney served in a gravy with bread or on its own with a few vegetables (tomato, raw onion) and bread. Another common local favourite is "Laxoox" which is like "Iujera" in Ethiopia (a soggy pancake), often with meat broth mixed with sugar poured over it. It tastes much better than it sounds. Lunch is often the largest meal of the day. Lunch and dinner are often more or less the same thing. Meat in the form of goat with or without a gravy which may or may not have some vegetables floating in it, accompanied by rice and/or spaghetti noodles and it may or may not come with a salad and/or soup. You can get this also with fish. Whatever you order it always comes with bread. Vegetarians will have a hard time in Somaliland, as everything seems to have a meat base. Even noodles and rice seem to have an underlying meat broth taste.

 

You cannot get any alcoholic beverages in Somaliland. Locals caught with it face severe prison terms. You can get your usual soft drinks but fresh squeezed juice is usually limited to papaya. Other fruit juices like orange and lemon are usually made from cordial concentrate and local water. Bottled water is widely available and in most cases the local water is perfectly fine as well. Nobody in local restaurants expect tips and, if you do leave one, they often assume that you've miscounted your massive pile of notes and it's usually returned, unless it's less than 500 shillings.

 

Tourism in Somaliland is very rare. Most of the foreigners found here are working for various agencies from abroad. As a tourist your whereabouts are monitored. When you arive in any place it's a good idea to report to the police station. If you don't then chances are they will find you anyway. In Berbera you'll need a photocopy of your passport and visa - there are many photocopy shops around. Everyone is always very friendly and in smaller towns you're often introduced to the mayor. As tourism is rare they are somewhat wary of spies and journalists. The down side to all of this is that they will try to encourage you to take guides, and on occasion police escorts, which will be at your own expense. This is all completely unnecessary and you can usually talk your way around it.

Dave Dissette, Canada (May 03)

 

 

Moving About

Unless you're trying to get to Erigavo which requires at least 2 days by vehicle if you're lucky enough to find one, air travel is not necessary as roads are relatively good and distances are short. Buses cover the major routes and are very inexpensive. Shared taxis generally consist of 1 passenger in the front, 4 in the back and 1 or 2 in the back-back. The are slightly more expensive than a bus. On some routes these are the only option. The advantage is that they are faster than a bus, you have the option of buying up more seat space and you can always get the driver to stop if you want to take a photo. The luggage on the roof is no extra charge. Pickup trucks are the cheapest option and are best used only on short routes, unless you want to get sunstroke. Mini buses run up and down the main street area of Hargeisa and are good if you're tired of walking in the midday sun.

Dave Dissette, Canada (May 03)

 

 

Scams & Warnings

Burao is the second largest city in Somaliland. It is very flat and spread out and is the main livestock market area for Somaliland. You definitely feel like you've crossed some imaginary border as you see civilians with automatic weapons and the atmosphere is not quite as friendly as it is in the rest of Somaliland. It is very unwise to even be seen with a camera on the streets here as you could get arrested and/or have your film confiscated for reasons unknown to you. Also the Secret Police will find you quickly here so it's probably best to be in the process of looking for the police station when they do.

Dave Dissette, Canada (May 03)

 

 

Gems, Highlights & Attractions

The beach is the main attraction in Berbera. It's about 4kms from town. If you wish to walk there bring lots of water, as there is no shade and no ride back once you're there. Look for any dirt road leading north. Hit the shoreline and continue walking east past graveyards until you come to a small building. The beautiful beach and warm sea stretches east from there. You'll most likely have the place to yourself. You can also arrange for a taxi to take you out there, wait for you and bring you back. This will cost 35,000 shillings for 1½ - 2 hours, depending on whether the taxi driver swims with you or not. If getting a taxi, don't confuse Bataalelaha Beach (sand beach) with Bataale Beach, which is only 1 ½ kms from town and is rocky and has graveyards.

Dave Dissette, Canada (May 03)

[guraad]

Angel_Dust , you said like ((be grateful for the mercy we have shown you time and time again )).

 

WHAT ARE YOU KIDDING ME ? GIRL YOU KNOW THAT HARGAYIESA MAFIA AND THER FOLLOWERS ARE SCARE LIKE RAT STANDING INFRONT OF BIG FAT CAT , EVEN AFTER WE ATTACKED YOU SO-CALLED PRESIDENT YOU ALL DIDN`T REACT AFRAID THAT IF YOU DO SO HARGAYIESA WOULD HAVE BEEN VENUE OF THE BATTE .

 

DAMN . DID YOU FORGET THE HISTORY MY GIRL IF SO PLEASE ASK YOUR OLDERS , ASK THEM HOW DERVISHS RUN OVER BURCO AND BERBERA TIME AND TIME AGAIN. ASK THEM HOW YOUR PEOPLE CALLED BRITISH AND ETHIOPIA TO BACK THEM UP AND FIGHT FOR THEM BUT STILL WE KEPT STRIKING BERBERA AND BURCO TIME AND AGAIN.

YOU GOTTA LEARN FROM THE HISTORY MY GIRL , I AINT MAKING THIS OUT OF THIN AIR BUT ITS THE TRUTH , THE SAME TRUTH YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES FROM . YOU GOTTA KNOW THAT AND HISTORY WILL TILL YOU SO ,THAT NO BODY THREATS US , WE ARE AFRAID OF NO MAN ONLY ALLAH CAN JUDGE US . MY ADVICE TO Y,ALL SOMALILANDERS GO BACK AND STUDY SOMALI HISTORY , LEARN FROM HISTORY BEFORE YOU START TALKING ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DID.

 

IF YOU TALKING ABOUT SNM THINKING THEY ARE BRAVE . TAKE IT FROM ME MY GIRL THEY WERE PUNKS THEY COME AROUND AFTER SAID BARRE POWER WAS LONG GONE , THEY NEVER WON IN ANY BATTLE AGAINST SAID BARRE . AND AFTER SNM CAME BACK TO EMPTY CITIES(HARGAYIESA AND BURCO) AND AFTER SAID ARMY WAS LONG GONE THEY ACTED LIKE THEY WON BATTEL AND FIRST THING THEY DID WAS TO MASSACREd HELPLESS PEOPLE OF AWDAL , THEY KILLED THE PEACE LOVING PEOPLE OF AWDAL , IS THAT THE HISTORY YOU TALKING ABOUT MY DEAR GIRL ?. AND WHILE SNM WAS MASSACRING PEOPLE OF AWDAL THEY COULDN`T EVEN LOOK AT LAASCAANOOD SIDE , KNOWING THE HISTORY OF SOOL PEOPLE AND KNOWING THAT IF THEY ACT FOOL AND ATTACK LAASCAANOOD GOD KNOWS WHERE THEY WILL BE ENDED UP , THEY CHOICE TO PLAY SAVE AND STAY AWAY FROM LAASCAANOOD COUSE THEY ALREADY KNEW THAT THEIR BUTT WILL GET KICKED AND THEM KNOWING THE HISTORY OF SOOL PEOPLE THEY NEVER LOOKED AT DERVISHSLAND SIDE. AND UNTILL TODAY NO SOMALILANDER DARED TO SET HIS FOOT IN LAASCAANOOD .AND STILL I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT TRIBAL WARS BETWEEN SOOL PEOPLE AGAINST BURCO TRIBES , I WILL LEAVE THAT FOR YOU TO ASK YOUR OLDERS , COUSE THEY KNEW HOW BRAVE PEOPLE OF SOOL ARE , JUST ASK YOUR OLDERS MY GIRL.

 

BEST OF LUCK FOR YOU IN YOUR STUDY OF SOMALI HISTORY . PEACE

[India]

Easy Guraad without Cries

 

 

What I can make out of you FUSSY CRIES is that you attacked BURCO AND BERBERA??? PLEASE BRING ME THE DATES>>>>>>I HAVE ONE WORD OF ADVICE FOR YOU CAYNBA IS UNDER WHOSE CONTROL AND WHO HAD HISTORICAL CLAIM?>>>CASE RESTED

 

Secondly I took your advice to heart and asked my elders and this is what they told me:

 

Masaakiin la dhaco waydinkii moodey reerahae

Marraaq lagu gubto iyo bay noqdeen muriyo waabaye

Muusiyo Qudeer uga aroor maalki reer Hagare

Imikay ku meermeerayaan Miilo iyo Laase Madda kama helaan inamadii magaca waynaaye

MadaxGaallo iyo Toommo iyo Magan Xawaalkiisa

Maatadu haraad Samataroow waa ku madhataaye

Moqorraysta waataad arliga madhax u diiddeene

 

Kana macaasha waataad in badan maya lahaydeene

Malatari cadhoodaa lafbuu malaw ka siiyaaye

Maroodiguba soo jeesigaan maaro loo heline

Malyoon lagu dhinto bay dhigeen marinkii ceelkiiye

 

Ragse hadu magliga soo rogtoo kala maqnaan waayo

Muslin iyo kufriba waa inay maalin diriraane

maatada rasaas lala dhacaa malaha maamuuse

Makhrib reero degey tuugag baa mira habeenkiiye

 

Marjaf lama ammaanee baqii magane yuu raacay

Misir iyo Madheedh iyo Galgalo maye ragi joogay

Mataanaha gobka le Kahinaw waa lagama marmaane

Maryo Dhiig le baa lagu furtay iyo mayd la qawracaye

 

Iminkaan masqaro loo dilayn meel nin jiifsadaye

Mudo aan yarayn baan Nugaal muranto taagnayde

Ay qoloba qolo maaganayd inay maquunshaane

Allaylehe Isak baa mulkiyey maaxdi Caynaba'e

[Gediid]

Bari

 

If you and reer "Somali-Weyn" (note I put Somali-Weyn in inverted commas because I know and we all know in taas idinka aheyn dacadnimo oo wax kale lagu walaaqayo)had the chance nimcada Ilaahey in eey ka hor istaagtaan Somaliland umaad neefesan laheeyn.In the blink of an eye ayaad cirka ka shiraaqi laheed.

[guraad]

Angel_D , caynaba was given to you by the british . british colonail fighting fought for you , is that what you are proud of . BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE I AM ABOUT TO TAKE IT BACK I DOSN`T MATTER HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE . NOW MY DRVESHS ARMY ARE ARE JUST STONE THROW AWAY FROM CEYNABA .

 

ABOUT YOU ASKING ME DATES AND PROOFS THAT I USED TO ATTACK AND TAKE OVER BURCO AND BERBERA , HERE IS ARTICLE WRITEN BY BRITISH ABOUT MY DREVISH MOVEMENT AND THEIR LEADERS . THERE IS MANY OF MISTAKES IN THIS ARTICLE BUT ITS GOOD TO READ HOW YOUR ENEMY SEES YOU . READ IT DAWN :-

 

Mohammed bin Abdullah Hassan, better known as the Mad Mullah, was born in the interior of Somaliland, some say at Kirrit, in the late sixties, his father an Ogaden Somali, his mother a Somali of the Dolbahanta tribe. His boyhood was much like that of other Somali boys, spent sometimes with his fellow-tribesmen and their stock in the interior, sometimes in Berbera. Now and again, perhaps, he voyaged in some friendly buggalow carrying Somali produce, hides and ghee and sheep, to Aden and the Arabian coast. Be this as it may, when he was about seventeen or eighteen, he determined to see the world, and is said to have enrolled at Aden as a fireman in one of the liners plying between East and West. His employment in this capacity must have greatly influenced his future career. For, doubtless, at Egyptian ports in native caravanserais he often listened awestruck to many a strange story of the Mahdi from the mouths of refugees from the Sudan. Following on his experiences at sea, Mohammed having now fully attained to man's estate, made the pilgrimage to Mecca - a journey which is the common ambition of all Somalis. So impressed was he by what he heard and saw that he made several subsequent journeys to the sacred city, joining the Mohammed Salih, an insignificant but fanatical Mohammedan sect, whose tenets are of a harsh and uncompromising nature as compared with those of the Kadariyah, which is the predominant sect in Somaliland. On his return from the last of these pilgrimages in 1895, he gained some notoriety in Berbera by denouncing certain practices of the Kadariyah to somewhat bored and unsympathetic audiences. With all the strident fervency of a born agitator he would inveigh against the luxury of the age, the immorality of chewing " kat," or the gluttony of gorging the fat of sheep's tail. For a living he depended upon the alms of the charitable; and there is an old Arab woman in Berbera who has often wondered whether he would repay the four annas she lent him in the days of his need should the opportunity ever came. He gained but few adherents among the inhabitants of Berbera, and so in 1899 he repaired to the interior, where he lived in the Nogal valley(Talex and around Laascaanood in sool state) among his mother's kin. Here he started a movement advocating the expulsion of the British infidel from his Mohammedan country. Many adherents Looked to his banner. Some were fired by his religious and political teaching. Others were attracted by promises of the wealth to be gained by raiding the stock of those tribes which espoused the infidel's cause, others again were inspired by a dual motive, religious and material: they saw an admirable opportunity to lay up for themselves treasure in the Mohammedan paradise by confiscating other tribes' treasure upon earth. For three years the Mullah disciplined his follower", eradicating the tribal feeling, which is normally one of the chief characteristics of the Somalis, and substituting his own authority for that of the elders of the tribes. Then early in 1899 he perpetrated his first overt set of hostility to the British Government. Suddenly swooping down upon Burao, a considerable native centre some eighty miles from Berbera, he raided the wealthy Habr Yunis tribe, and attracted a section of the Dolbahanta to join him. After the raid, his fighting men were estimated to number 3000.

 

To resume, the Mullah followed up his first coup of April 1899 by a further successful foray against the Ha.br Yunis and h.abar gayalo in August, and he reoccupied Burao with a force estimated at 5000 men. He gave himself out as the Mahdi; and ominous rumours spread foretelling an advance on Berbera. The Consul General urged an expedition on the Home Government, but our commitments elsewhere, more particularly in south Africa, were such as to preclude the immediate adoption of this course. During the first seven months of 1900, the Mullah was comparatively inactive, but in August he suddenly swooped down upon the Aidegalla tribe and caused all the friendly tribes to evacuate the Haud in confusion. Next month the Habr Awal tribe suffered severely at his hands.

 

It would be superfluous to discuss here in any detail the campaigns which followed. They are exhaustively described in the Official History of the Operations in Somaliland, 1901-04, published by the War Office in 1907; and it will be sufficient for the purposes of this paper to outline very briefly the general course of events.

 

The first expedition started in April 1901, and operations terminated in the following July. The force employed consisted of a locally-enlisted and hurriedly-trained levy of 1500 men, of whom 500 were mounted. The casualties inflicted on the Dervishes were estimated at some 1200 killed and wounded, and, in addition, 800 prisoners were taken, including some notable headmen.

 

The Mullah's power had thus been appreciably shaken, and for a time he remained quiescent. But not for long. In October 1901 he renewed his activities, and, thanks to the illicit arms traffic, he had, by January 1902, not only recovered from his losses, but had attracted the majority of the Do.lbahanta tribe to him. By the time our second expedition was launched in June 1902, his following was estimated at 15,000, of whom 12,000 were said to be mounted and 1500 armed with rifles. Against this, our Expeditionary Force consisted of some 2000 rifles, partly King's African Rifles, but principally locally enlisted and locally- trained Somalis. During this expedition, which culminated in the severe but successful action fought at Erigo in October 1902, the Dervishes sustained some 1400 casualties, lost a large number of prisoners and some 25,000 camels, in addition to many sheep, cattle, and horses. But disorganized transport and the shaken moral of the Somali levies prevented the pursuit of the Mullah to his retreat in the Mudug district.

 

It was now evident that the situation was such as to demand regular and seasoned troops. At the time of the action of Erigo, the force in Somaliland had consisted of 2400 rifles, of which no less than 1500 were local levies. This force was immediately increased by a further contingent of 900 King's African Rifles, and by 300 Indian infantry. A strong column was to advance from Obbia in Italian Somaliland and occupy the Mudug. Another column was to operate on the Berbera-Bohotleh line. And, simultaneously, an Abyssinian(Ethiopians) fores of 5000 rifles, accompanied by British officers, was to advance along the Webi Shebeli, to prevent the Mullah's retreat westward. The advance from Obbia commenced on the 22nd February 1903; and the enemy immediately fell back on Walwal and Wardair, denying us an opportunity of trying conclusions with his main force. On two occasions, however, small advance parties engaged large forces of Dervishes. At Gumburu, a reconnaissance of two companies of the 2nd King's African Rifles and 48 rifles of the 2nd Sikhs came up with the Mullah's main force, commanded, so it is said, by their chief in person. The fight which ensued appears to have lasted two and a half hours. The Dervishes charged the British square from dense bush some 300 to 600 yards distant, their horsemen and riflemen being driven back time and again with cruel losses. The square was eventually broken by a rush of spearmen, but not before all our ammunition had been exhausted. The Dervish casualties, estimated by some at 2700, are unknown: for no British officer survived to tell the true story of Gumburu. Our casualties were all officers (9) and 187 men killed and 29 men wounded. Another action at Daratoleh - in which were engaged some 800 Dervishes, flushed with their victory at Gumburu, with their leaders wearing the uniforms of the dead British officers - resulted in the infliction of heavy casualties on the enemy, our losses amounting to 2 officers and 13 men killed, and 4 officers and 25 men wounded. In the meantime the Abyssinians inflicted a crushing defeat on the Dervishes, claiming to have killed 1000 of their spearmen. Immediately after this engagement, which took place on the 31st May 1903, the Mullah made a daring but successful movement eastward to the Nogal valley. Unfortunately, however, it was impossible to intercept this movement, as, owing to camel transport and other difficulties, our troops were being withdrawn to Bohotleh.

 

His Majesty's Government now derided on a further increase to our force in Somaliland in view of the Mullah's position in the Nogal and its proximity to our sphere. More than 8000 troops, of which 1000 were British, were employed, in the hope that the Mullah's power would be permanently shattered. The enemy's force, which numbered between 6000 and 8000 fighting Dervishes, was concentrated at Jidballi, where the Mullah, deriding to make a stand, received a most crushing defeat. His casualties in the actual fight at Jidballi (both January 1904) must have been very large; but far greater were his losses during the course of his subsequent flight northwards to Jidali, and thence eastward into Italian territory. On the other hand, our casualties were slight, except in officers, of whom 3 were killed and 9 wounded, out of a total of 27 killed and 37 wounded of all ranks. It appears that the Mullah only sought sanctuary in Italian territory after receiving solemn assurances of a safe passage from Osman Mahmoud, the Sultan of the Mi.jjertein, the Italian Somali tribe, who was equally solemnly pledged to us to prevent him from crossing the Italian frontier. Had it not been for this breach of faith, the Mullah would doubtless have had no alternative but to surrender

 

Thus, this fourth expedition was completely successful in all but bringing the Mullah himself to bay, and so putting an end to his movement. The greater portion of his wealth, which among a desert dwelling nomad people consists of the flocks and herds upon which their very existence depends, had been captured. The moral of his Dervishes as a fighting body had been utterly destroyed; and their numbers, estimated at 6000 to 8000 before Jidballi, could not have exceeded 800 on the conclusion of the campaign. Above all, the Mullah's personal prestige was temporarily shattered; and the discredited refugee in Italian territory must have out a poor figure as compared with the defiant enemy who, during the third expedition, indited the following letter to the British people: - I wish to rule my own country and protect my own religion. If you will, send me a letter saying whether there is to be peace or war. I intend to go from Burao to Berbera I warn you of this - I wish to fight with you. I like war, but you do not. God willing, I will take many rifles from you, but you will get no rifles or ammunition from me. I have no forts, no houses, no country. I have no cultivated fields, no silver, no gold for you to take. I have nothing. If the country were cultivated or contained houses or property, it would be worth your while to fight. The country is all jungle, and that is of no use to you. If you want wood and stone, you can get them in plenty. There are also many ant-heaps. The sun is very hot. All you can get from me is war - nothing else. I have met your men in battle, and have killed them. We are greatly pleased at this. Our men who have fallen in battle have won paradise. God fights for us. We kill, and you kill. We fight by God's order. That is the truth. We ask for God's blessing. God is with me when I write this. If you wish for war, I am happy; and, if you wish for peace, I am content also. But if you wish for peace, go Solvay from my country back to your own. If you wish for war, stay where you are. Hearken to my words. I wish to exchange a machine gun for ammunition. If you do not want it, I will sell it to some one else. bend me a letter saying whether you desire war or peace."

 

In March 1905, the Illig or Pestalozza Agreement was concluded between the Italian Government and the Mullah, whereby peace was declared between the Dervishes on the one hand and the British and Italian Governments on the other. The Mullah was assigned a port and certain territories in Italian Somaliland, beyond which he and his Dervishes undertook not to encroach. The Mullah also agreed to become an Italian protected subject. This agreement was, however, nullified soon after it was concluded, as the Mullah left Italian territory, and by 1907 had re-established himself on the British side, raiding and looting far and wide.

[African]

guraad wrote;

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE I AM ABOUT TO TAKE IT BACK I DOSN`T MATTER HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE . NOW MY DRVESHS ARMY ARE ARE JUST STONE THROW AWAY FROM CEYNABA .

guraad, one question since you are propagating WAR. Who will be the ppl that will be killed, loose their homes and displaced if this war takes place?

 

Plz think far and beyond ur secluded environment & imagine the bigger picture of how this war will effect the lives of ordinary ppl that want to live in peace in their homelands.

[Grinov]

this is a desperate topic by the so called puntland camp.

 

regardless of the positions of the BUTTland or MIRqaanland, SOMALIA does NOT need a petition to be saved.

 

this nation will stay intact, indivisble under ALLAH.

 

THE illusionary of north south, buttland, and somalimirqaanland WILL fade away in a few years.

 

thirteen years and counting.....let see next year, and the year after....and so forth.

 

 

there is more to somalia than the treasonous mirqaanland and the powerhungry stinking buttland

[General Duke]

Funny topic indeed

 

Girnov whats your point man?

Insulting people wont make them go away son, it shows how desperate you are by insulting whole clans and states because they dont fit into your way of understanding, I think Afweyn was like that any relations?

 

Guraad,

 

You made your points well and clear but I dont think Gediid or Angel Dust will be able to understand this as truth is so far been hard for them to fathom.

 

Africa,

 

Good points but it was not Guraad who said lets start war, he wanted only for people to sign a petition (such great act of agression) Its our lonely brothers in Caynabo that are starting to feel the heat.