The mad mullah of 21st century, Abdi Mohamed Omar, Somali Regional State President
The Somali Regional State is inhabited by all Somali Clans. Even there are some Somali clans that exclusively live in Ethiopia only. Despite the fact that the Somali Regional State is inhabited by all Somali clans, the regional state is currently completely dominated by one clan. It is true that most of Somali clans that inhabit Ethiopia have rarely fought against the Ethiopian government or people. The Ethiopia’s government, however, seems to ignore the pleas of many Somali clans that are daily massacred in the regional state. The Liyu Police, Special Police, which had primarily been set up to counter the armed insurgency of ONLF ( Ogaden National Liberation Movement) is now used to advance one clan’s economic, political, cultural development. No Somali clan has been spared of the Liyu Police butchery. This short writing will look at the hidden agenda of Somali Regional President, and whether the Ethiopian Federal Government understands the current wrong policies implemented by the current Somali Regional State President, Abdi Mohamed Omar.
History has taught us that war does not bring peace. It simply ferment revulsion and alienate many people. The Somali Regional State is located in geologically critical place. There is no doubt that blind injustice against people will drive them into the arms of extremist organisations. It is important that we make sure that the Ethiopia Federal State’s Constitutional provisions are upheld in Somali Regional State before it is too late to do anything.
Once again, on 6th June 2016, in the first day of fasting –Ramadan- the so called Liyu Police, Special Police of Somali Regional State, massacred more than forty innocent pastoralists at Jama Dubad village (in Gashamo District). The Liyu Police which directly takes order from the Somali Regional State’s President, Abdi Mohamed Umar, has been accused in the past of horrific forms of human right violations, such as murder, torture, rape, and extrajudicial detention. The Liyu Police was primarily setup to counteract against the insurgency in the Regional State spearheaded by ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Movement). Although initially, the Liyu Police was projected to include all the stakeholders in the regional state, the Liyu Police is at present completely dominated by the young people from the Ogaden Somali Clan. Despite the fact that Somali Regional State is inhabited by many Somali clans, anyone who does not belong to Ogaden clan has been systematically ousted from the Liyu Police. As a result, almost all of the high ranking officers in Liyu Police are from this clan.
Due to scarcity of pastor and water, the essential two commodities for the survival in Somali Regional State, there have always been low conflicts among different Somali Clans. However, these rivalry have now reached its climax, and penetrated the regional state’s mechanism, and one tribe is using all the state’s resources to advance its long standing ambition of making Somali Regional State a place where only Ogaden Tribe inhabit.
In the last five years, the current Somali regional state’s president, Mr Abdi Mohamed Omar, AKA Ilay, has introduced a raft of policies to make this dream realised. One of these policies is the increase of Somali Regional State’s Districts from 52 to 91. So far, forty-one districts have been created. Out of these forty-one districts, thirty-five of them have been given to Ogaden clan.
The question that everyone asks is what does this means politically, economically and culturally. As anyone can see for themselves this has a strong political ramification. The primary purpose of this political move is to increase the parliamentarian share of the Ogaden clan. Since its establishment, the Somali Regional State’s Parliament consists of 187 elected MPs from different districts. The Ogaden Clan had no overall majority. The ONLF party, that had joined the transitional Government in 90s, botched to implement its Ogaden based policy. As a consequence they left the government and started their insurgency. Due to the creation of more districts, the number of parliament has now increased from 187 to 287. In particularly, the Ogaden clan has got more than 80 MPs. This political manoeuvre has made the Ogaden clan the single major voting force in the current Somali Regional parliament. That also means the parliament can reach any decision that would have big political impact on Ethiopia. It is also pave the way for the long standing wish and wants of Ogaden clan: creation of an independent Ogaden State.
To complete his strategic move of achieving a regional state inhabited only by Ogaden people, the regional president has personally ordered the Liyu Police to harass other Somali clans in the regional state. One of the ways it chooses to evict other Somali clan from regional state is making life hard for the pastoralists. As known, most of the border districts have strong trade ties with the neighbouring Somalia/Somaliland. These districts rely on the neighbouring country to access basic services and products. The Ethiopian market is too far and expensive for the local people. Instead of introducing gradual integration of these districts into the mainstream Ethiopian market, the regional state has closed all borders which tantamount to mass starvation. It is illogical to close a border without provision of services and products. The most expensive item in this regional state, water, has never been provided to the people of border districts. Rather their water source birkas have been destroyed to drive people from their ancestral land. On the other hand, massive projects, such as big irrigation projects, several boreholes, and major transport infrastructures had been implemented on the other part of the region where the Oganen clan lives.
The other policy the regional state carries out in these districts is the policy of transfer of civil servants from one district to another. On the face value, this policy seems right and perfect. Somali Regional State suffers from tribalism and nepotism. However, the regional state has a hidden agenda under this policy. It uses this policy to evict local people from their districts and transfer them to more hostile districts. Most of the civil servants have resigned or simply disappeared from their newly allocated work place. The regional state has assigned Ogaden clan members to the key economic and political strong area. For example, all the state machinery is the Capital is run by Ogaden. In contradiction to the principle of democracy, even elect mayors have not been spared.
In addition, the regional state has rewritten the history of the regional state to reflect only the Ogaden clan. This wrong history is now a part of the educational curriculum. Students in the regional states are taught from primary to high school stories and anecdotes that inflame hatred, animosity and conflict among different Somali clans that have lived thousands of years in peace in this regional state. To give you a concrete example, a simple look at the 10th grade text book in Somali regional state will show that the man responsible for the massacre, hostility and hatred in the Somali community, Abdullah Hassan’s (the mad mullah) poem is the part of the text. In this poem the mad mullah directly insult some Somali community that inhabit the regional state. It also insults the Ethiopia people. It is a sad affair that the mad mullah’s statue now stands in the middle of Jijiga town.
Moreover, almost 75% of the regional posts are held only by one Somali clan making the Somali regional state an Ogaden State. The regional media is dominated by one culture. Dhanto, folklore dance of Ogaden clan, is the major cultural features broadcasted by the regional state run TV- Ethiopia Somali TV. The Ethiopia Nation Nationalities Day held in Jijiga two years ago reflected Ogaden Clan is the representative of the Somali nation.
The killing, torture, extrajudicial arrest, injustice and mass eviction in Somali Regional State has to stop now if anyone is trying to bring peace and tranquillity in this part of Ethiopia. At last it is important to point that injustice breed hostility. Injustice is the mother of all evils, and people who are not getting justice in their country will have no option than seek the justice in whatever way they deem necessary. The Somali People are not one clan. They are a part of Ethiopia, and their alienation will have disastrous consequence. The Somali Regional State’s injustice and the Liyu Police indiscriminate massacre of innocent pastoralists will drive many people into the arms of extremist organization. It is the right time to put reign on the mad mullah of the 21st century.
This is not enough to warn the mad Mullah
What do you expect, Addis says “we wield no authority in Ogaden anymore”, how soon after you say that do you get another mad mullah?
War hede kuwuu laayoo ee uu maalin walba xansuuqo Ogadeen baa ubadane maxaad tuugan sumcad ugu samaynaysaa inuu reer difaacayo ah?
waxad u muqata nin meel aan boos uga banayn miiqmiiqanaya sxb tani waa itobiya taada ka hadal afdheerarka iska dhaaf
The good will overcome the evil Isha Allah.
Dawladii Somaliland iyo kuwa isku sheega xibiyada mikoodna xusuuqii kamayhadal???
mawduucaagu fariin qabiil nacayb huwan oo aan cimiyaysnayn isla markaana aan waxba ka fahamsanayn dawladaha iyo xuduudaha gobolka geeska ayay iila muuqata. Arrinta la Yaabka leh, Sayid Maxamed Cabdille Xasan Gumayseyaashii reer Yurub ayuu la dagaalamay-adigu ma gumaysteyaashaad ka mid ahayd? Sida kaa muuqata, cabsi gelinta aad Ethiopia u jeedinayso iyo qabiilka takoorayso yaad ku qancin kartaa? Ma inta kula reerka oo kaliya aad akhristahaaga u qoondaysay. Adigoo qolo la col ah qolo kale xuquuqdeeda
Ma ka hadli kartaa? Su’asha kale, haddii DDSI aad qabiil ku sheegtay ma kuu muuqata taad tahay Somali Land ee reerkiinu suntaday ee waliba xoogga ku haysata qabiilooyin aan kula siyaasad ahayn dhalashana kula wadaagin
Arrinta xuduudka, ma xuduud qabiil baa mise waa xuduud dawlado wadaagaan oo dhinac walba danihiisa ka ilaashado. Ugu dambayn DDSI iyo shacabkeeda way isleeyihiin, cudurkii aad Somalia ku burburisay ee qabiilka iyo Jahliga way ka xorowday mana noqonayso meel aad “Controband” iyo boobka khayraadkeeda ka fushatid!!!! Cancer qabiil umbaad la xanuunsantahaye Allaha kaa caafiyo. DDSI, Madaxweynaheeda iyo Shacabkeeduna adiga waxba kaagama baahna, hanjabaadaaduna waa been aadan ka fiirsanin. Qormadaaduna waa kuu qiimo dhac hadaad damiir iyo aqoon damqada leedahay-Casrigii Jaahiliyadda umbaad wali ku jirtaa. Clan nationalism over in the Horn of Africa.
By way, you guys, are you talking about people in Somali Land or people in Ethiopia???? Please make your self clear of your argument.
“qoysataye yaa kuu xiiri” Ogaaaadeeeeeeen! oagadeeeeeeeen! BALALAAAAAA!!!!!! War ha isku dirin Ogaadeen ha is raacin ethiopia wax kuuma soo wadee!!!
Qofka xun waxaa lagu gartaa dadka fiicfiican ayuu nacebyahay sida kan sayid Maxamed waxa ka sheegaya oo kale. Qofka Soomaaliga ah ee HALYAYGII Soomaliyeed & Islaamkaba ku soo qabtay mujrimka ina ILAY ah EEBBE ha cadaabo aakhiro iyo aduunkaba. Taariikhduna masaamaxayso .waan kaydiyay qormadan si loogu fadeexeeyo ciddii qortay xilliga ku habboon.
He has to clear your shits up, Cabdi was wadani cidkasta oo ku soo duusha dadkiisana wuu difaaci
Qoraalkan iyo maskaxda ka xishoon wayday inay waxaas oo kale warbaahinta soo dhigto midna ma mudna in qofna qiimeeyo. Waa feegaar laga dheegan karo nooca shakhsiyadda waxa noocaas ah qortay…………
Referring to ur baseless clanism clanismpropoganda I should tell u to Get up… you are dreaming. I say this b/c u want to direct Ethiopia w/c solved more than 80 nations & nationalities problems and development and succeeded to solve the regional & international threat in Africa including the ur so-called Somaliland and became the country to represent Africa for the national Community….. On the other hand u are still in day dreamig b/c u are trying to challenge the Ethiopian Somali regional State that is led by the great leader Abdi Mohamoud Umar who united the Somali society if the region and eradicated the Ubbo insurgency that ur two decades policy has been hiding behind it where he was rewarded by Ethiopia as the hero who solved one century security & dev’t challenge if Ogaden….Finally get up and u should the Eth. Somali region by the party w/c is headed by non-Ogaden leader and all the somali tribes in Ethiopia have designed together for their future. However, I should conclude wake up today is 21st century….it isnot the era that somalia trible-based Fronts as USC & SNM has been Adminstering the Ethiopian leaders minds and Cities such as Harar, Jigjiga and Others…..conclusion wake up….wake up for ur life…day dreaming shall not solve ur plotical headache.
Afkaaga caano lagu qabay aabe.
What is the chance that one day the Somali State of Ethiopia will become an independent state? That chance is nil if the Somalis who inhabit this region are killing each other, hating each other, fighting each other. Who is the beneficiary then?
i wonder this article which lost its credibility and validity, HE president Abdi Mohamoud Omar and his effort to secure the most complicated region in Ethiopia which somali Region and fast going development over past few years is well appreciated all over Ethiopia, its shame on you if you speak off Ogaden clan and mention more 100 times to criticize does not make us any sense because to tell you Ogaden clan is simple like Bone morrow of Ethiopia which mean very important for Ethiopia, as we are Ethiopia we know Ogaden tribe is the only somalis clan which has no al-shabab or terrorist and the Home of al-shabab and international terrorist we know its Somaliland your home. however you are campaigning for terrorist and illegal trade in enter our country it will never happen, and if you try to classify Ogaden Clan and Ethiopia you will confuse. as Ethiopian we are proud to President Abdi Mohamoud Omar, he is hero in the horn of Africa and proud to special police force of Ethiopian Somali region.
thanks to Ato Mubarak and Abiyot for reality based comments and replies to this irrelevant and deceiving article written in immaturely and impolitely manner by a clannish and barbaric person. to come to my say on this, it was the you so called SL who always hosted the UBBO and Alshabab terrorists and sent these gungs to the different countries in the horn of Africa region however you were not successful in your terrorist missions in our nation -Ethiopia.
you always were the source of conflict to Somalia for the sake of recognition as an independent SL. what you wanted is only the contraband trade to be legalized for you and that will never happen.
you will die with your envy and greedy personality and like Mubarak I am telling you to wake up because you are in a day dream.
Without talking your multi angled complaint, criticising the tomb of Sayid Mohamed constructed in Jigjiga, do you like to complain, or does it made a bad appearance. Taalada aad ka xuntahay, means maxa calool xumo iyo qabyaalad aad.ku fogaatay. Tankale, who built like tomb in Moqadisho. Really all Somalis, whereever you go you will found either a tomb, school, or other thing entitled/loogu magacdaray Sayid Maxamed, except So called Somaliland. So that Sayidka waa u halyeel Sommalida oo dhan hawiye, majerteen, ogadeen, dir, but Isaaq waxay u yaqaaneen mad mula wa sida ay ka dhaxleen aabahoof English Man oo ah Gorgield.
Bro army Officers kii idin adoonsaday ee mu adinka maxa masjid uga aadami ku dilay iyo kuwi caruurtina diinta ka badalay miyaa eed mudan, mise Sayidki Gaboodfalka ka damqaday ee la dagaalamay ayaad eed u yeeli. Hora gaal jacay lagugu yiqiinay. Sayidkana horay u yiri Nin aqdaamo faranji ah, ama awrta uba rara, ama adhiga uba qala, ama aalada uba sida, ama laba ugaadhsada,.. Ashahaado beeniyo Islaanimo ha lagu dhaqo Ilaahay nama odhan, Ana ma ogolaan karo. Sxb sayidku ma gaalnimadi uu diiday ayaad ku eedayn, kuna nacday.
It seems the author of this non sense article have some thing to gain from the controband trade which currently under a strict supervision. From the way I see it this article revolves around under a single issue. Easing the strict border control. I hate to brake it to you Mr but that not Somali Regional State decision to make. The illegal goods which entered through Gode with out paying the due tax are seriously jeopardizing the legal traders here in Addis and all over Ethiopia including Jigjiga. First you somali landers should clean your mess before barking on us. And also it seems you did not do your home work before this divisive and loaded article. The Ethiopian somali regional state Presidant well respected and love all over Ethiopia specially by the elites in Addis. I say u should quit with your non sense clan politics crap and come up with some thing convincing to ease up the border control and allow the trade flow across the boarder. I don’t think strict border control between the two nations (somali land and Ethiopia) is the answer for controlling the unorthodox flow of Goods and services across the boarder. But your Ogaden bullshit have nothing to do with this!
Comments are closed.