Institute for Horn of Africa Studies Affairs releases its first book

[NASSIR]

I just get my hands on this new book. Great work by the IHASA.

 

Looking Back & Looking Forward: The Ogadan Region in the 21st Century

 

Edited by Faisal Roble and Dr. Bereket Habte Selassie

[Abu-Salman]

There is at least this interesting report on their website:

 

 

http://www.ihasa.org/documents/special-reports/ethnicity-in-ethiopia.pdf

 

 

Few excerpts detailing highlanders colonialism of Somali and Afars regions, whose aspirations have been hijacked through clan rivalries as early as in 1991 when the Derg was routed:

 

 

"Now finally EPRDF set out to sponsor a political affiliate, and the Ethiopian Somali

Democratic League (ESDL) was established at a meeting in Hurso, under the

leadership of the two Somali members of the federal cabinet, and with strong

pressure publicly applied by both Prime Minister and President"

 

"When in 1995 the regional capital shifted from the remote Hargeysa-clan heartland of Gode to the

highland periphery of Jigjiga, close to Ishaq territories, the move was initiated by the non-oga-deni

clans newly controlling the region, and was also clearly desirable from the Federal government’s

highland perspective, given the relative accessibility, stability and security of Jigjiga – as well as its

more temperate climate. Somali regional politicians had been warned early on not to press their

controversial claim to Dire Dawa"

[NASSIR]

Abu Salman, Here is a classic New York Times article on Muktal Dahir. He was very eloquent leader.

[NASSIR]

[Questioned about the success of his guerrillas against the modern weapons of the Ethiopian forces, he said,

"Tanks are the only weapons prolonging the struggle. My men have orders to avoid them when the push provides cover. But we haven't lost a single man to planes, although they can bomb camels and destroy villages....

 

We wanted our freedom. It was impossible to seek it through democratic means in a country where there's no free speech and no political party machinery, where expeditions are sent to collect taxes by force ---seizing camels and millet crops. When we asked the Emperor for internal self-government, he threatened to shoot 180 Somali chiefs. He had an inkling what we were up to, and tried to impose a new head tax on cattle. Koran schools were ordered closed, and the laws allowed for one wife and no divorce. All this interfered with Muslim Somali traditions, and as leaders, we were expected to execute this policy". ]

[Taleexi]

Got mine too this morning. Looking forward reading it.

[Valenteenah.]

Sounds interesting.

[NASSIR]

Indeed sis. Get ur copy. I spotted some spelling errors. I actually learned a lot from the experts of this region.