A Diary of The Somali Civil War (January 7, 1991)

Daily chitchat.

Moderators: Moderators, Junior Moderators

Forum rules
This General Forum is for general discussions from daily chitchat to more serious discussions among Somalinet Forums members. Please do not use it as your Personal Message center (PM). If you want to contact a particular person or a group of people, please use the PM feature. If you want to contact the moderators, pls PM them. If you insist leaving a public message for the mods or other members, it will be deleted.
User avatar
Knight of Wisdom
SomaliNet Super
SomaliNet Super
Posts: 6609
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:56 pm
Location: Eiffel Tower

A Diary of The Somali Civil War (January 7, 1991)

Post by Knight of Wisdom »

The Rise of 'Clanism' and Decline of Somali Nationalism

After a week of heavy fighting, January 7 was relatively quiet late into the morning. The only radio station in the city, Radio Mogadishu was off the air for many days. All communications,including telephone were also silenced and the people depended on a word of mouth fortheir news.


I confined myself and my family indoors for several days to avoid the fighting in the city.

On this day, even though the streets were dangerous, I dared to leave the house and assess the
situation for myself. After few turns through allies, I came to Kasapopulare main street. It was
almost deserted. The usual multitude which normally roamed the street was gone. The swarm
of vehicles which drove up and down the street in a high speed, as though they were escaping
an approaching bush fire had disappeared. Occasionally, a person or two emerged from the secondary streets and quickly vanished again into another side street.

The air was loaded with dustand smoke that turned the cloudless sky into dark gray. The sound of whirling wind, carrying pieces debris was occasionally interrupted by bursts of explosions coming from the fighting down town. Few confused animals ran aimlessly here and there, probably trying to understand the sudden change that over took their city and altered their peaceful life.

I went to a mosque in the neighborhood hoping to find somebody I knew. I removed my
shoes at the door and tiptoed inside. There were only few men waiting for the call of noon
prayer. I looked around and found no one I met before. Most of them looked at me, as though
they were saying, "Tell us the news of the fighting?" which was unusual in a mosque setting.
I turned to an opening on one of the walls containing old and unorganized copies of the
Quran. I took one of the copies and went to a corner and sat to read. As I opened the book, it
dawned on me that I have not read the Quran or prayed for many years. I was ashamed of myself.
I remembered the scaring tactics of some fanatic sheiks saying, "The unbelievers remember
God only when they are petrified. Then they beg Him for protection and forgiveness. They pray
only when they are close to destruction."




I closed the book before I even read a verse and looked around again. The attendants sat in
groups and were engaged in cowed argument. Some of them were louder than others and their
voices carried anxiety. The atmosphere in the mosque was devoid of the usual meditation and
reading of the Quran. Its peaceful and serene state that preceded congregational prayers was
absent. The faint beams of light that came from the cracks of the walls and windows added to
the terror felt in the air.

I leaned on the wall behind me, closed my eyes and wanted to be carried away. To be hustled
away to far place; far from the madness and uncertainty surrounding me. I wished I had no responsibility even to myself.
I wished the wait for the prayer to continue forever. However, a heated discussion between two men close to me brought me back from my deep thoughts.

"We have not heard from the opposition groups fighting the regime yet. In particular, USC
needs to communicate with people," said one of them.

"It has no means of communication. No radio. No print shops. It cannot reach the people,"
replied the other.
“That is not justification! It can form neighborhood committees, if it is supported by the people."
"It has done it, but only in the Hawiye areas. It is rumored that all Darod clans are supporting
the regime."

"So, if USC wins the war... uuuuuuuuuuuum, it forms a Hawiye government?"
" It seems!"
"That is an ugly joke!"
"Why not? Darod formed governments repeatedly without consulting other clans."
"That is not true. Even the Supreme Revolutionary Council of 1969 of October Revolution
was inclusive. The 25 members of the council were proportionally divided among Somali clans.
A good number of the 'despised' minorities was included. Sadly, the Somali Bantu group was
not represented. Maybe they had no officers in the army. Any way USC alone cannot form a
government. They need to invite other opposition groups, including SSDF, SNM and even SPM,
which has no power base in proper Somalia."

"Forget SNM. They do not care about the South. They will be busy cleansing Ogaden people
from Hargaeisa and Buroa for long time to come. It does not trust Darod, and its supporters despise some of the southern clans."

"What about other opposition groups?"
"SSDF does not want to share power with other Somali clans. Anyway, all opposition groups
are a clan-based and they do not trust each other."

“I do not understand the disorder we are in! Unfortunately, the country is invaded by lawless
bush people! Somalia is invisible in the eyes of the world as a whole. I do not understand what
they are trying to achieve by tearing it into pieces. "

"I do not understand too! Goran Hyden may write a book on 'uncaptured Nomads'. "


“Why Mr. Hyden? Our intellectuals can explain the problem to us."

"O God! They do not talk to the people. They talk to each other. They have no weight. Most
of them are lighter than their shadows. They put fancy titles-Dr., professor, etc. in front of their
names to show their superiority to the rest of us."

"You make me laugh! You think they are not the people Ayi Kwei Armah is waiting for?" "
Some of them are even imitating Moses and want to lead their clan across river Juba to the
'promised land' of shalabow. They claim that 'Maxay' people are colonizing 'May' people. There
are others who are reconstructing Somali History to proof Darod domination."

"You are telling me sad stories. Where did you read all these garbage? Somalia is the only
homogeneous country in Africa. 'Maxay' is a dialect of 'May'. If you drop the guttural and some
nasal sounds of 'Maxay' it becomes 'May'."

"Expect more surprises from our ‘intellectuals’! May be soon some like the Senegalese
philosophers will be found among us!"

I interrupted the two men, "Excuse me for my intrusion. It seems you are forgetting the Somali
politicians."

Both men smiled and one of them said, "If we have politicians, why we are killing each
other?"
The other man added, "The people we call politicians are technocrats. There are no Somali
politicians." He added his definition, “A politician is a person who is visionary and can formulate
a policy."

I said, “Let us pray for a better change. Nothing can be worse than the present regime."

"I Agree!" Said one of the men, "That is the only hope remaining for us! However, do not
blame the present regime. We were telling the old man for twenty years that he is the best president in Africa, and he believed it."

The call of the Sheikh cut short our conversation. We stood, formed lines and began praying.
Instead of listening and following the imam with clear head, I was constantly thinking of the
danger my family and my country were facing. The preying session ended quickly.

The Sheikh turned toward us with folded legs and raised his hands to the ceiling, and we did
the same. He began glorifying God and asking for help, “… O Lord, We seek your guidance,
Your knowledge. We ask You to decide for Your glorious favor, for You degree and we do not.
You know and we do not. You are He who knows the invisible.... O God, help us. God!
Strengthen our faith. O God, forgive our sins for we are innocent in darkness not knowing what
we are doing. O God! Do not punish us for we are ignorant. O God! Safe us from our bad deeds
for we are weak and defenseless.... Amin." He concluded.

The Sheikh reminded me of the African ancient religions which put man at the center of the
universe and gave him the responsibility of protecting himself, animals, and plants. To do so,
man was expected to be pure spiritually and physically. No help was given from deities for
problems man brings to himself, animals and plants. No prophets were sent to rescue ‘believers’ like the Semetic religions.



People began leaving the mosque, but I wanted to stay behind. The guardian of the mosque
looked at me several times to follow others. At the door, I met my old brother Abdi who missed
the union. We decided to go home. Abdi (bless his soul. He was killed few days later by one of
the militias for being from the 'enemy' clan) was a typical Somali that leaves home every day
early in the morning to find the news of the day. I asked him if he had any information about
the fighting.

He told me that the Hawiye militia was regrouping to launch a final attack on the government-
held areas. He added that every Hawiye clan was given a front- Abgal was given Bondhere,
Wardhglay and the area around Senai. Habargidir was given the responsibility of Suuqa
Xoolaha (livestock market), Lido, Kambo Amharo, etc. and so on.

I asked, “What Darod is doing?"

“It is also organizing itself to fight too." He added, " Majerteen is taking positions at Jirko
Officiale and Stadium. Dhulbahante is gathering at the National Fair grounds. Ogaden is at NationalMilitia (gulwadal) Headquarters, and Marehan positioned itself at 77 military camp and
Villa Somalia."


I wanted to know, " SNM and Rahanweyn are not involved in the fighting?"
"SNM is!" He added, "It is fighting on the side of Hawiye and it drives most of USC
'teknikos'.
It seems the fighting is between Hawiye and Darod. Rahanweyn has no militia. It is
against both sides." He paused for a moment and with sad voice continued, “ All government
forces-military, police, etc., have disintegrated and their members have deseted and joined their
respective clans. They are fighting the government they were formed to defend. No more law
and order in the city!”

After I heard these developments, my worst fear came closer to reality. I was afraid, the fighting
of Somali clans will turn into a never ending destruction and suffering. In the evening, January 7,

I ended my daily notes with the following, "At present, it is difficult to tell whether the polarization of the Somali clans and their clear division along tribal lines will set off a civil war and power struggle among the 'militia leaders' or whether it will steer the nation to a negotiated settlement among the government, Somali clans and the opposition groups."
Yusuf Haid
Buuhoodle, Somalia
User avatar
PrinceDaadi
SomaliNet Heavyweight
SomaliNet Heavyweight
Posts: 2442
Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2011 5:32 pm
Location: Daadi Island

Re: A Diary of The Somali Civil War (January 7, 1991)

Post by PrinceDaadi »

Can we forget these thing and start something good with our life? do we have to visit the past everyday?
User avatar
Knight of Wisdom
SomaliNet Super
SomaliNet Super
Posts: 6609
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:56 pm
Location: Eiffel Tower

Re: A Diary of The Somali Civil War (January 7, 1991)

Post by Knight of Wisdom »

PrinceDaadi wrote:Can we forget these thing and start something good with our life? do we have to visit the past everyday?
What's wrong with revisiting the Somali past? Don't we learn about War Diaries of World War 2 and World War 1 ? I don't see you complaining. :?
User avatar
PrinceDaadi
SomaliNet Heavyweight
SomaliNet Heavyweight
Posts: 2442
Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2011 5:32 pm
Location: Daadi Island

Re: A Diary of The Somali Civil War (January 7, 1991)

Post by PrinceDaadi »

Knight of Wisdom wrote:
PrinceDaadi wrote:Can we forget these thing and start something good with our life? do we have to visit the past everyday?
What's wrong with revisiting the Somali past? Don't we learn about War Diaries of World War 2 and World War 1 ? I don't see you complaining. :?
I see nothing we can learn from the civil war that happened in 1991, every one knows what happened, the best we can do is to move on but if u wana stay there sure it is ur life.
Venusta
Posts: 154
Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2009 1:14 pm
Location: Not where I want to be...

Re: A Diary of The Somali Civil War (January 7, 1991)

Post by Venusta »

Interesting read.Taken with some amount of salt.
Wish we had unbiased historians.
User avatar
ciyaal_warta
SomaliNet Super
SomaliNet Super
Posts: 9629
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:58 pm
Location: Hiiraan State of Somalia

Re: A Diary of The Somali Civil War (January 7, 1991)

Post by ciyaal_warta »

dude change the focking color indho xanuun baa nagu riday :down: :down:
User avatar
CismanMaxamud1
SomaliNet Heavyweight
SomaliNet Heavyweight
Posts: 1824
Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2011 11:16 am
Location: SSDF/Kulmis

Re: A Diary of The Somali Civil War (January 7, 1991)

Post by CismanMaxamud1 »

Image
Locked
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “General - General Discussions”