Why Western Somalia is a better name than Ogadenia

[BlackVelvet]

East African countries like all African countries are made up of many different tribes. Is being a different tribe from the rest a good enough reason for secession?

There are Masais living in Kenya and Tanzania, there are Luos living in Kenya and Uganda. Imagine if the Masais in TZ or in Kenya or the Luos decided they wanted to have their own land to join back with either one of those countries, they'd be laughed out of court. Why do we think that Ogadenia will eventually have a different fate? Let's ignore the fact that this region is different and is occupied by a lot of different Somalis and was "given to Ethiopia", all those lines were drawn by colonialists these extra facts make no difference to the bigger picture. Ethiopia has a lot of different ethnic groups why should the Ogaden get special treatment? Why should they be allowed to join Somalia when there are Ogadens also living in Kenya just like there are Luos living in Uganda? Being a different ethnicity is not a good enough reason.

However we know that this is a different situation but the name Ogadenia makes it an ethnicity argument, it takes the focus away from the whole point of the struggle. This was the genius behind calling it Ogadenia, to make sure that independence is a far off dream.

Western Somalia.

That name in a very simple and concise way explains very clearly why The Ogaden Region is a part of Somalia and not Ethiopia.

[Eaglehawk]

what is the historic basis of your argument.
show me a document or a map of the past with that name

[PrinceDaadi]

It is Western Somalia not Eastern Somalia besides The colonials wanted to divide the people who inhabit that region.

[Niya]

If, and that is a big if Ogadenia was legally part of Somalia, it would be Western Somalia. The reality is different and the name is a historical one. People in the region would have to agree to a name change for all it is worth interms of self determination, borders demarcations and indpendence. Never the less, la lutta continua.

[BlackVelvet]

oops

Well the point still remains. It's not a matter of who lives there, the point is that it is a land that is part of Somalia. Calling it Ogadenia or the Ogaden region ties it to Ethiopia and isolates the region by making the struggle into one centered on ethnicity.

[BlackVelvet]

what is the historic basis of your argument.
show me a document or a map of the past with that name

I have stated my reasons why Western Somalia is a better name in terms of gaining the right to secede. If that is the end objective. Why is Ogadenia a better name in reaching that end? MSB fought for Somali Galbeed and I believe there was a wisdom behind using that name.

[metamorphosis]

I am not gonna be a ceeb and say that name is a bad name but we prefer ogadenya. we can bring the discussion to the table as long as people other than ogaagaden pick up guns and start fighting to free the land. Until then lets hold this discourse in abeyance.

[Eaglehawk]

We live a law based world, you just can’t come up with stuff like “better name”, and your argument needs a historic and legal basis.
The name “Somali galbeed “has no basis historically because that region never had a unified authority except a dominate clan who the world refered to, even in historic documents there has never been a mention of the Somali name with that region.

Somali galbeed was coined post-independence Somalia meaning that names history goes back as far as 1960 at best.
That region historically has been knowing as the “ogaden”, now when you use that name you can show that, that region was never part of Ethiopia but was a separate entity from Ethiopia.

[BlackVelvet]

Who exactly wrote this "history" who named it Ogadenia?

I am not gonna be a ceeb and say that name is a bad name but we prefer ogadenya. we can bring the discussion to the table as long as people other than ogaagaden pick up guns and start fighting to free the land. Until then lets hold this discourse in abeyance.

I respect it if the Ogadens in Ogadenia are the only ones fighting for independence, I can see why you would be defensive about it. But if the aim of the fighting is independence and secession from Ethiopia then it becomes about priorities.

[SheikhExecutive]

Who exactly wrote this "history" who named it Ogadenia?.

The British named it Ogaden, not Ogadenia.

[Adali]

^The British named Somali territory in the north British Somaliland, today it is Northern Somalia with regions of Sool, Sanaag, Togdheer, Wuqooyi Galbeed and Awdal.

[metamorphosis]

Who exactly wrote this "history" who named it Ogadenia?.

The British named it Ogaden, not Ogadenia.

bv so what do you suggest? somalia itself doesnt have its priorities prioritized. we have been the only ones fighting for the land since ogaden himself. If we predominate the land in terms of population and are the only oned fighting for it then why must we change the name for the sake of other people who live in the land?? Changing the namr for that reason is akin to somali tv show censoring the word jesus because it might offend some christians living in somalia. Its purely stupid. You should learn the history of the land because you seem oblivious to it.

[BlackVelvet]

change the name for the sake of other people who live in the land

For the sake of the people who are losing their lives fighting an impossible battle. It's about legitimacy and what will help further the aim of secession. There are Ogadens living all over Somalia and Kenya, ma leysku haysto the presence of OGs, the point is that that name is failing and will most probably continue to fail to refelct the purpose and meaning of the struggle.

[metamorphosis]

change the name for the sake of other people who live in the land

For the sake of the people who are losing their lives fighting an impossible battle. It's about legitimacy and what will help further the aim of secession. There are Ogadens living all over Somalia and Kenya, ma leysku haysto the presence of OGs, the point is that that name is failing and will most probably continue to fail to refelct the purpose and meaning of the struggle.

So you are saying the name is the obstacle standing in the way of successful succeasion?? Do you think its that simple? The struggle is young and it hasnt even been 20years since we picked up arms and only a fool expects such an easy win. Freedom is expenaive and we will contend until freedom is within reach of arms and we will take it inshallah.

[BlackVelvet]

It is never that simple but whatever helps your cause should never be turned away too easily.