News briefs

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Those who grew up in Xamar, living in Xamar in 1991 was a very bewildering and scary year. Very jungle-like, no laws respected, whether traditional, Islamic or not. Basically it was a year when Soomaali tradition and civilization completely broke down.

 

Try reliving a few events of that year, 21 years ago this month. Shabeelle Press newspaper had a popular section called 'news briefs' (dhacdooyinka) then. This is some of what happened in Agoosto of that year.

 

Agoosto 12, 1991:

• Children find a corpse near Jeneraal Daa'uud. The corpse, a balding male, is estimated to be 40 years old.
• A woman died and four others wounded after an exchange of fire at Ceelgarweyne market. It all started when a young man’s weapon accidentally went off killing the woman. According to an eyewitness, naciim, who saw it all, the slightest accident nowadays turns into a tribe X versus tribe Y war.
• Shamso Axmed Maxamed and Maxamed Axmed were robbed at gunpoint at Xamarweyne of 10,000 shillings and a pair of earrings. A witness recognized one of the robbers as Abshir Mire Cilmi. The police then went directly to the robbers’ home near ENEE and arrested him. As of this report Mr. Abshir was being held at Afar Irdood police station.
• Xasan Axmed Cabdulle (Xasan Ganey) was wounded after an accidental discharge of a gun at Shabeelle Press headquarters. “The butt of the gun hit the wall,” said Cali Cusmaan, a member of the security detail at Shabeelle Press who also stated that this was the first incident of its kind at Shabeelle Press. The bosses at Shabeelle Press were said to seething mad.

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Agoost 14, 1991:

• A boy and a girl (no names given) were wounded yesterday near ex-Fiyoore. This happened after three gunmen backed by a technical attacked the Qaad market there. The Qaad market security forces responded with heavy fire chasing out the attackers.
• A corpse, about 25-year-old male, was found near the livestock market at Wardhiigley. A man who refused to give his name said they were a group of six men and were arguing about money and finally decided to “leave this guy here.” The witness said he was awakened by the quarrel in the early hours of the morning and observed the whole thing through a crack in his window.
• Ruqiyo Aaden was robbed of gold earrings in Waaberi yesterday. This operation required five men armed with automatic weapons. Ruqiyo’s neighbors came to her aid and according to an eyewitness, Maxamed Cali, there followed a terrible gunfight. Maxamed Cali, the witness, found himself inadvertently on the wrong side with the Burcad and asked one of their members if Burcad was attacking them. The man told Maxamed Cali they were the Burcad and then made a strange request: please make sure this story appears on Shabeelle Press.
• Maxamed Saciid, a victim turned Good Samaritan, found himself in a checkpoint (isbaaro) that was just being set up for the day near Cinema Missione. The men searched him but nothing was found on his person and he was let go. However, another man who was foolishly counting money nearby was robbed. The Burcad operated on that corner until sunset and Maxamed, after positioning himself in a strategic corner near the cinema, warned the public approaching the checkpoint.

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Agoosto 15, 1991:

• Fire broke out when a young inexperienced gasoline vendor decided to smoke. “He was the only one hurt,” said Arwaax Nuux Cabdulle, an eyewitness. Other vendors nearby brought the fire under control.
• Four gunmen stuck up Cabdi Xuseen Maxamed (Dhuubaani) for 70,000 shillings and two loose cigarettes. “One came from behind and the other three from the front,” said Mr. Dhuubaani. “I gave them everything I had without any trouble,” he lamented.
• A bomb explosion near the meat market (Xamarweyne). A child was wounded and a man and a woman died. No one knows the cause or who was responsible.
• The house of Axmed Naaji Xasan a.k.a. Axmed Naaji Sacad was attacked last night at about 9:00 PM. One bag containing two Yemeni passports, two watches and a record player were taken. “We heard women screaming and when we got there the women were gone,” sail Cali Yare, a neighbor. Maxamed Cabdi Aadan, a moor'yaan expert interviewed for this article by Shabeelle Press, said the Burcad these days prefer to set up Check Point (Isbaaro) rather than go into peoples homes.
• When the security detail at Martini Hospital found out they were being transferred they shut the hospital down refusing to let the doctors, nurses and visitors in. The ICRC office inside the hospital for reuniting separated family members (baafin) was also shut down.

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Agoosto 17, 1991:

• Colonel Muriidi Cali Lunge and Xaaji Cali Lunge were killed and two others wounded near intersection afarta jardiino (Yaaqshiid) yesterday. Gunmen driving Toyota Corolla committed this act after following the victims from Sinai Market. The two victims are brothers; money and food in their vehicle was not taken.
• Cabuud Xaaji Maxamed was kidnapped near Shabeelle Hotel yesterday. He was taken to the building opposite the National Theatre (Teatro Nazionale). They told him not to say hello to anyone as he was being led into the building. Once there they took 8000 shillings and the shirt he was wearing. They did not send him bare-chested though, he was given a shirt off one of the thieves. Cabuud said he won’t be coming downtown area anymore.
• Radio Mogadishu lost its ability to broadcast its short wave programming. This after 10,000 liters of diesel designated for the generators powering the station were sold and the proceeds shared by the employees. Then the employees sent a memo to government officials accusing the security forces stationed there of stealing the diesel. The security forces then shut down the place. In an unrelated story a Land Rover belonging to Radio Mogadishu driven by Cusmaan Gaaljecel was taken at gunpoint near Casa Popolare. Shabeelle Press sees a great risk of “someone broadcasting a new government using that truck”
• Three gunmen who set up a roadblock under the Ceelgaab Bridge stripped a man, Cumar Warsame, of 500,000 shillings. The money, in the new smaller denomination, was neatly lined up and well hidden under the victim’s shirt.
• Maxamed Axmed Maxamed (Sinsinle) and Cabdiqaadir Cali Cabdulle (Cabuuy) were caught after they ran out of ammunition attacking the house of Xaashi Jimcaale Culusoow. Neighbors who came to Mr. Culusoow’s aid surrounded them. No word on what was done to the gunmen.
• Ten gunmen on a Land Cruiser tried to rob food aid from an SDM convoy. A gunfight ensued and one of the gunmen was killed. The gunmen lost their vehicle and SDM had a wounded man from its ranks. Xasan (Tibtob) was the witness and Aaden Maxamed Isaa'q was the wounded man from SDM.

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Agoosto 19, 1991:

• Saalax Shariif Xasan lost his macawis the night before last when he walked into a isbaaro. He was walking with his pregnant wife. "I told them I had no underwear and one of the men responded 'waa loo baahan yahay' (we need it)." He made do with his wife’s garbasaar. This happened near Garage Amiin (Kaaraan).
• Daa'uud Badarre died at his home in Waaberi last night. There was reports of Moor'yaan in the neighborhood and as has become the norm in these occasions Maxamed Cabdiqaadir, a relative of the proprietor, started firing into the air [the reason for firing into the air is to tell the Moor'yaan: This house has a gun; stay away.] As Maxamed was in the process of firing the weapon his go’ came off and as he tried to recover it he shot Mr. Badarre. The distraught young man ran from the house and was not seen since.
• Two men armed with only one gun attacked a young man for his gun. The young man [no name given] fought back and took their gun.
• Four gunmen were caught pushing a mini-bus infront of Xaawo Taako School. The proprietor Yacquub Siidoow Mayoow reported to police and produced his documentation. All four gunmen were arrested after a gunfight.
• A thief wielding a beebeeshe gun robbed Daahir Xaaji Cabdi of 30,000 shillings and a watch in Xamarweyne yesterday. The thief whose name is Cismaan Jibriil was arrested later on -- without resistance.
• About 15 people – men and women – died yesterday near KM 4. The ICRC was distributing rice, beans, and cooking oil when according to an eyewitness, Xuseen Yaroow Maxamed, moor'yaan gents showed up. The people in line already worried about the lateness of the hour became riotous when they saw the moor'yaan. SDM militia who was providing the security detail became nervous and a phenomena known as spray and pray ,weapons being fired in all directions and hoping for no colateral damage, ensued.
• Maxamed Macoow Cali was wounded traveling on Via Liberia near Makka Almakurama. The guy who fired the shot took off and eyewitnesses told Shabeelle Press it was an accidental discharge.
• Sahra Muriidi robbed of garbasaar and a bag near Baar Haidhaafin (Ansalooti). There were four of them and the bag contained about 20,000 shillings. She knows one of them very well. “He might be the ring-leader,” she said.
• A public service message: There are reports of a isbaaro near Cinema Missione.

[SayidSomal]

Those who grew up in Xamar, living in Xamar

MMA - what do you call these people - instead of describing them?

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

^^ Reer Xamar

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Sayid*Somal;863117 wrote:

MMA - what do you call these people - instead of describing them?

Yaryarkeena Ciyaal Xamar ayaa isku naqaanay. Dadka ku dhashay kuna koray Xamarna Reer Muqdisho la dhihi jiray. Dadka Xamar deganaa Reer Xamar lama dhihi karo maadaama Reer Xamar reer gooni ah loogu yaqaano Koonfurta, gaar Xamar.