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 THE TRUE SAGA OF RAASO COFLICT. By H.Mahamud
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For centuries the Somali Communities in the Ogaden-Somali territory
colonized by Ethiopia co-exists in peace and mutual respect. Even though, there had been many major civil wars within Absame tribes, but never had been in the history of any occurrence of major conflict between Absame and Sheekhaas. And in fact, Sheekhaash community was highly respected among Absame tribes as they had always been the religious leaders.
However, the recent tribal and political conflict in Raaso was solely created by Sheekhaash political and tribal leaders. The responsibility of the current crises is surely on the shoulders of those initiated the problem. In the late 1990s a political and tribal conference was held by the respected community members in �Maramaydh� a village of Garbo District.
After months of consultations, the conference had adapted resolutions, mong other things, to encourage and facilitate several thousands of families to move from the land they had inhabited for hundreds of years in peace and to relocate them to an area inhabited by other tribes for centuries.
Furthermore, the political and tribal leaders of mentioned tribes decided in that conference to set up a Sheekhaash only zone or district in the area; so they can be elected there. After length preparations, the Sheekhaash community mass exodus began in late 1999. They started moving toward west in large numbers and in a matter of weeks; the well planned mass migration was completed.
The entire people belonging to sheekhaash community was moved from all over the regions of Ogadenia, then crossed Shabeele River to Salahaad district and particularly they settled Raaso area.
Whether the conference had greatly under estimated a potential conflict or ignore it, did not care and prepared their community for avoidable civil war; the results are disastrous as bloodshed continues.
Soon after their arrival the year 2000, tension rose between the immigrants and the indigenous people of the area. And several incidents took place over farm land. But, the conflict had escalated to new level, after the massacre of 12 community leaders took place in a village called Hargaisa, not far from Raaso. All the victims were members of Absame sub-sub clan delegation; who tried to negotiate a peace deal with new comers. The crime was committed by sheekhaas gunmen/militia; among the dead was the village of Hargaisa mayor �Hassan Aw-Elmi.�
As the well organized and better equipped invaders had the upper hand, they had managed to corner the indigenous people and took over many villages, farm land and thousands of live stocks that were belong to the indigenous Absame people. Just to mention a few of the area they captured; are villages of Hargaisa, Budhudhey, Basaqe, Raaso, Jalalaqe Valley, masala, Howdal, Dabdheere hills and many more. Thousands of local families became refugees in and around the town of Salahaad after the aggressors kick them out of their homes and farm land. The conflict continues till today with no sign of ending and both sides lost hundreds of people.
The so called Raaso human rights group is a full of hate group. They are the same people initiated the situation where Somali nomads to fight one another. This racist group intends to create their tribe only territory and to rout out of the other communities from their homes and farm land in ethnic cleansing type of war. People like Shafy Ahmed-Noor who signed the document are warlords� not human right activists as they claimed. Shafy Ahmed-Noor himself had reportedly delivered much needed supplies to his militia in Salahaad district area; including cash, ammunition and other goods in the war effort for several times in the past few years when he made trips from Toronto, Canada to Gindir, Ethiopia.
The recently posted articles and published by Geeskaafrica.com are clear example of this group�s agendas. Such a hostile, hatred and misleading articles are nothing but false propaganda and very far from the truth of what is taking place in and around Salahaad district of Nogob Region. In addition to that, these postings by so called Raaso Human Rights and signed by Shafy Ahmed-Noor would only further inflame the civil war. It is unfortunate that, they choose to fabricate information irresponsibly and a provocative way to express their deeply hatred mentality toward Absame tribes. A hate which based on clannism/trabalism is very dangerous in today�s Somali Society. Moreover, fabricating false information in order to spread their hatred propaganda against other Somali communities is another proves of their aggression.
To conclude, in a situation where our nomads are killing each other, a
responsible person should seek solutions not for confrontations. Shafy
Ahmed-Noor and his friends need come up with a positive attitude and then look for a solution from within concerned Somali community in the area or perhaps to re-thing about the invasions they had organized five or six years ago. If their 1999 plans are not working today, then may be the time is right to change directions and come up with an alternative solution for their community. And remember, the poor nomads are the direct victims of decisions made by politicians who convey full of hatred messages and only interest in getting seats in the parliament.
At the end I want to address my final comment to the owners of [email protected], that publishing such documents containing so much animosity is wrong thing to do. And this kind publication has no place in the ethics of journalism. I do not know about you, but many Somalis across the Globe are deeply sorry about their previous attitude with regards to the Somali civil wars in the Horn of Africa. Perhaps you are one the few people who still enjoy spreading hatred messages among Somali people. My hope is like most Somalis, that one day, this dust will settle then justice will prevail. Insha-Allah.
H. Mohamud
[email protected].
Source: Somalitribune.com |
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