Somalia Role in African Decolonization: Djibouti 35th Anniversary

[Abu-Salman]

Some of us may not be very familiar with Somalia role in the independence or liberation of African countries from Eritrea to South Africa or how influential the Somali State was within Africa during the early decades after decolonisation in the 1960-1970s particularly; eg TPLF leaders in Ethiopia were based in cosmopolitan Xamar, travelling with Somali passports and Somali support to Zimbabwe or SA anti-apartheid militants rattled Anglo-Saxon powers:

 

 

[/b]Somalia marks 35th anniversary of Djibouti independence(Bar Kulan)

 

 

Somalia is today marking the 35th anniversary of Djibouti independence as several colourful events are being held in various parts of the country including the capital, Mogadishu.

 

It is now exactly 35 years down the line after the tiny Horn of African country got its independence from France on 27 June 1977.

 

A colourful ceremony to honour the day was today held in Mogadishu and was attended by several top Somali government officials including Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, speaker of the national transitional federal parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan.

 

Djiboutian ambassador to Somalia Dayib Dubad Roble was also present at the ceremony.

 

A similar ceremony was held at the Somali central town of Beledweyne near Ethiopia, where Djiboutian soldiers serving the African Union Mission in Somalia are based.

 

The event comes just a day after Somalia celebrated the independence of its northern regions which gained the independence just four days before the south.

 

Djibouti which is inhabited by many ethnic Somalis is regarded “second home” by many Somalis due to its endless efforts towards peace and tranquility in Somalia which has been marred by two decades of civil war.

 

 

 

 

 

: Djibouti, whose decolonization heroes such as Mahamoud Harbi dreamt of the reunification and liberation of all Somalis including Djibouti, is now a fast growing regional hub and strategic, middle-income country, very closely allied with Somalia and a second home to Somali investors (major owners of estates, banks etc).

[Bluelicious]

Happy anniversary to Djibouti.

[Carafaat]

Happy anniversary to the dictatorship in the French Colony of Djibouti.

[ElPunto]

^Ditto.

 

So given all the help they got from Somalia - why did they choose to go their own way rather than a merger?

[Haatu]

^ Why should they have chosen to merge with a dictatorship?

 

Maybe in the future they might change their minds though.

[ElPunto]

^Because they turned out to be the very opposite of dictatorship???? And Mr Hassan Gouled was a benevolent democrat when he inherited the country at independance???

 

Maybe because of gratitude or maybe because they were a country of 20,000 square kilometers with 100,000 people who had very little going for them.

[Haatu]

^ Well to be fair to them they had no way of knowing what was to come for them.

 

As for independence, who doesn't like to rule his own? Power is very addictive.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

They were smart why would they join Somalia?

[ElPunto]

^Because that's where the future lies. Already in Eastliegh they determine prices/economies across all of East Africa. Soon the politics will follow. Get in early with the winner yo.

 

 

Actually Hassan Gouled was not an unknown quantity when he took over. You can rule as part of bigger whole - that's the problem with Somalis - they only see a small picture. If I'm not top dog - then I'm nothing.

[Haatu]

Xaaji, You forget, back then, you were Somalia.

 

Punto, confederacy between the 5 regions isn't bad.

[ElPunto]

^You oppose federalism within Somalia ie PL demands but you are for confederacy in the 5 regions - why the difference?

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

They gained independence and as soon as they gained independence the saw the Somali republic at war with Ethiopia but the elites of Djibouti didn't want to join the Somali republic nor did the population want to join the Somali republic or they were indifferent. But if the Somali republic played it well they could've asked the french and Europeans before they gained independence to federate Djibouti with the Somali republic the same way Emperor Haile sellesie lobbied at the league of nations to federate Eritrea with Ethiopia. This could have been an option i mean if Djibouti was part of the Somali republic than we at-least united Somaliland Somalia and Djibouti 3 parts of Somaliweyn.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Haatu;847530 wrote:

Xaaji, You forget, back then, you

were

Somalia.

 

Punto, confederacy between the 5 regions isn't bad.

No back than i was the Somali Democratic Republic:D