To my fellow Mogadisciani- Mogadishu in Tears

[Somalina]

by Buri M. Hamza

Saturday, December 25, 2010

 

 

As we continue to honour the 50th anniversary of our country’s independence and national unity, our Capital City is literally in tears

 

Mogadishu, also known as Xamar - the quintessence of Somalia’s independence and national unity - is indeed in tears. Abandoned by the very people it has nurtured, sheltered, educated, and protected, it cannot help but cry. And as the deluge of tears continues to inundate the cheeks of this crying city, its old sons and daughters, who are lurking about elsewhere, continue with their indifference and obliviousness. Only a few have opted to return, and many others are either just too scared to run the risk or perhaps not yet ready to sacrifice their lives for a city they owe a lot to.

 

The recent return of some ex-Mogadisciani – for many after more than 25 years – to take up ministerial posts in the new cabinet of the Transitional Federal Government should have pleased the crying city. Irrespective of whether they can rise to the country’s pressing challenges and deliver on their promises, the fact that they have opted to take risks and defy the menaces – similar to what their predecessors from the diaspora had previously done – will certainly be tantamount to another bold move. The question now is whether others in the diaspora would follow suit.

 

Mogadishu, once known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, is now more than twenty years into a crisis that is not of its own making. This prolonged crisis has had a way of altering its landscapes. What was once a beautiful, peaceful and inviting city, the consequential result of its devastation is indeed heartbreaking. Some of the obvious changes are: buildings and other vital infrastructures blown apart, roads ripped up, the ancient sites in a shambles, and a striking change in its demographic structure. The old parliament, where fifty years ago the first President of an independent and united Somalia was sworn in, is now hardly identifiable.

 

But Mogadishu, the destruction it has sustained notwithstanding, continues to assert in a dominant fashion the Somali nation’s sovereignty. It has been bestowed with a unique historical responsibility to lead the country. This is the city that had given birth to an independent and united Somalia. And as we continue to honour the 50th anniversary of our country’s independence and national unity, we salute you Mogadishu. For better or worse you are our national inspiration. You possess all the qualities that give you matchless national political and economic leverages. You are envied for the degree of national pre-eminence that you possess.

 

And what astounds me most as I keep on looking at our crying city is: its resilience. When it is listened to, it can, at least for some brief moments, remind you of its glittering charm and elegance, its love and past smile, its unscathed and clean air – when deeply inhaled turns into a reminiscence of the good old days: those beautiful days when Mogadisciani would take the old-aged swing at the city centre, or drive through the streets of Mogadishu without any fear of anything, without any fear of the insane insurgents who are now amputating or chopping off people’s arms and legs, just to cite some of the heinous crimes perpetrated against innocent people.

 

And paradoxically, and albeit the insecurity that still prevails in certain quarters of the city, Mogadishu witnesses an unbridled growth of the private sector: thriving but unregulated telecommunication firms; hawaala banks, which facilitate the transfer of the remittances from the diaspora to the needy in different parts of Somalia ; and other businesses that are also perceived as being a bit insensitive to the externalities that are generated as a result of their unregulated activities. And while these businesses enjoy an uncontrolled access to resources, it is yet to be established whether they are bound by and committed to the principles of corporate social responsibility.

 

Mogadishu hosts a plethora of non-governmental actors. Rising above all adversities, they have shown to be a symbol of perseverance. They have been able to fill the void engendered by the absence of effective government institutions. They have built schools, hospitals and independent radio and TV stations. But a disconnect discerned between governmental actors and non-governmental actors, on the one hand, and within the non-governmental actors themselves, has precluded the development of potential partnership models essential for delivering key issues confronting institutions in the country.

 

Mogadishu, the wishful thinking of those who want to divide the nation notwithstanding, will remain the sole guarantor of Somalia’s national unity. Nobody expects sweeping and immediate changes in the city anytime soon – even the most straw-clutching of optimists. But the Capital City of our beloved nation will eventually witness a return to normality. It will usher in a renewed peace and stability. It will shine again, restore its elegance, and resume its leadership as the nation’s only and only Capital City.

 

In conclusion, I hope my fellow Mogadisciani in the diaspora would not shrug off my plea. While I trust they are fully aware of the grim repercussions of their indifference, yet the need for understanding the underlying root causes that have led to their indifference is very dire. The quintessential Mogadisciani now in the diaspora were forced to abandon their city – they had succumbed to all forms of tortures, injustices human rights violations, and expropriation of their assets. The perpetrators of such despicable acts are after all our own compatriots. They ought to be forgiven. But they must first confess that they had committed crimes against their innocent brothers and sisters and ask to be pardoned.

 

Buri M. Hamza

Mogadishu, Somalia

bhamza@hotmail.com

[Timur]

Buri Hamza is a good man, a native Benadiri from Yemen if I'm correct, the people for which Mogadishu's outlying region is named.

 

It is unfortunate that his, and our beautiful pearl, is occupied by wild animals who escaped the zoos of Baraxleey, Dhusomareeb, and Cadaado. In due time the local people will have their justice, and their peace loving brothers in Puntland, Baay, Bakool, Jubboyinka and Shabellada Hoose await their return to peace. I wish it was as easy as doing the job ourselves, if I could I would rally Puntlanders everywhere to join in with their brothers in the aforementioned regions and liberate Mogadishu from the moryaan who despoiled her. At least Al-Shabaab has shut down the isbaaro business and returned some properties that were stolen by the Mudug-based thugs, some justice has been dispensed I guess.

[Somalina]

This thread was meant for Mogadishu natives, not Shabaab fanatics.

[Timur]

Where is the Al-Shabaab fanatic? There are two people in this topic; a warlord-fanatic from Gelinsoor (you) and a Somali patriot from Xamar (me) who has been kept out of his capital by the likes of you.

 

Good day.

[Somalina]

Timur;682946 wrote:

Where is the Al-Shabaab fanatic? There are two people in this topic; a warlord-fanatic from Gelinsoor (you) and a Somali patriot from Xamar (me) who has been kept out of his capital by the likes of you.

 

Good day.

 

loooool@Gelinsoor. Born n bred in Xamar, my grandfather was born in Xamar and so was his father.

 

You don't belong on my thread, so you need to bounce outta here. You don't even know where Mogadishu is on the map yaa camel herder... get lost and stop wasting my time. I got my hands full with top Shababi supporters, no time for reer badiye english la barey.

I suggest you go buy some decency at the terrorist market, that is all you are good for anyways. What a waste of space!

 

p.s. Last time you were claiming Galkacyo, Mudug, and now Xamar..loooool... meel laguu raaco yeelo...is qor qor badanaa Shababiga...

[Jacaylbaro]

Xamar way hagaagi doontaa Insha Allah ,,,,, the question is when ??

[Timur]

Somalina;682948 wrote:

loooool@Gelinsoor. Born n bred in Xamar, my grandfather was born in Xamar and so was his father.

 

You don't belong on my thread, so you need to bounce outta here. You don't even know where Mogadishu is on the map yaa camel herder... get lost and stop wasting my time. I got my hands full with top Shababi supporters, no time for reer badiye english la barey.

I suggest you go buy some decency at the terrorist market, that is all you are good for anyways. What a waste of space!

 

p.s. Last time you were claiming Galkacyo, Mudug, and now Xamar..loooool... meel laguu raaco yeelo...is qor qor badanaa Shababiga...

You don't have to be shy, we all know you support warlords like Caydiid, Qeybdiid, Qanyare, Indhocadde. You identify more with the thugs of Baraxleey than the natives of Benadir.

 

I claim Gaalkacyo today because criminals like you keep me out of my capital, you've turned it into a tribal playground for your cousins.

[Beer-Gaal]

Labadan miyey isku qarasbaxeen? waa yaabe

[oba hiloowlow]

Xamareey waa lagu xumeeye ee yaa ku xaalmarinaayo?

[Ismalura]

I will be back to Xamar some day inshaAlah !

[The Zack]

I like how the new admin editing goes LOL. Waxa dhan waxey ku masaxeen some crazy color.

[Showqi]

Meesha Feedh iy Laad baa ka dhacay. Somalina do you need Dhakhtar Baraf in your corner? waa kuu jeedaa dagaal culus aa ku jirtaa!!!

 

 

Xamar waan u xiisnay ee illaahay xaalkeeda ha sahlo. Insha-allah dhalinta markay xamar ku noqoto. Sideey ahaan jirtay iyo si ka fiicanba waan ka dhigi doonaa.

[Somalina]

LOL...the admin is exaggerating a little bit as usual.

[Qodax Qorax]

Abaayo, Moqdhishu will inshallah return to normality when stealing houses and property isn't the norm again.

 

So when will Armaajo return my house?

[Bashiir]

Qodax Qorax;683187 wrote:

So when will Armaajo return my house?

He will return soon when your morals and attitudes be more beautiful than the house.