OPINION

REFLECTIONS ON MY ATTEMPTED ASSASINATION
Written by Osman Dayib

Monday, 16 July 2007

On 27/7/06, at Baidoa, as I came out from a mosque, on my way to my residence, there approached me two hired killers, instantly firing on me a series of bullets. Four shots perforated my body. immobilized.

Hon. Adv. AHMED IBRAHIM - DMC
By : Hon. Adv. AHMED IBRAHIM

CHAIRMAN OF SOMALI PARLIAMENTARY
COMMISSION OF THE CONSTITUTION & FEDERAL AFFAIRES.

On 27/7/06, at Baidoa, as I came out from a mosque, on my way to my residence, there approached me two hired killers, instantly firing on me a series of bullets. Four shots perforated my body. Thanks to the grace of God, neither one of these shots struck a vital organ. Thus the gang left me with a multi fractures at my left leg for which I am so far mmobilized.

The gang, as they got aware that they missed assassinating me, with particular rage, cruelty, cold bloodedly assassinated the late Hon. Abdalla Deerow Issaq (may the Very Merciful Allah eternally bless his soul) as he came out of the Friday noon praying, at the steps of a mosque at Baidoa.

The TFG position paper of 30/10/06 finger pointed the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) as the ideators & perpetuators of these barbaric acts of assassinations. The referred position paper stressed the actual political motivations behind said acts.

However in order that the precise scope and objectives behind said exasperated acts is well understood, I intend to shed light on the historical backdrop which made feasible these acts. The Dighil & Mirifle tribe is considered as the dignitary tribe of Somalia. From the earliest time, it adopted a semi sedentary agro-pastoral mode of life.

Gradually they developed land conservation mechanisms such as soil erosion control, pasture conservation, crop rotation etc. Concomitantly they developed a deep rooted psychological attachment to the land they inhabit. Differently, the other Somali tribes opted to a nomadic pastoralist life.

This resulted in the manifestation of different modes of perception of life, reasoning symbols and of course objectives. While the Dighil & Mirifle tribe attributed great value to the land, caring for its conservation, the other Somali tribes exaggeratedly exploited land by excessively grazing their
herds exposing it to desertification.

Then they move to other parts in search of better pastures. This resulted in bitter attrite and civil wars
between the Dighil & Mirifle tribe on the one hand and the rest of the Somali tribes on the other hand on various occasion.

The auto determination breeze of the Second World War actualized these centuries old attrite and intestinal hostility. As far as the Somalis are concerned, it was the Dighil & Mirifle tribe which spearhead to the nascent nationalistic movement.

It was its off spring called Abdulkadir Saqaayu Diin who in 1943 found the Somali Youth Club (SYC) with the extensive support of the tribe & those Somali communities who dwell at the coast. As per adherence to the club, it was open to all Somalis who responded positively to this ouverture. The political platform of the club was to pave the way to an independent Somalia.

Soon, the long dated differences of perception due to their modes of life suffocated the political discussions between the Somali tribes. This caused the dissolution of the club and the subsequent formation of the HISBIYA DIGHIL & MIRIFLE (HDM) and the SOMALI YOUTH LEAGUE (SYL) representing the Somali nomadic tribes in 1947.

Sheikh Abdullahi Bagadi, the charismatic founding father and the 1st president of HDM together with the party executive committee members formulated a crystal clear political platform having as objective the attainment of an independent federal Somalia .

Most important is that Sheikh Abdullahi Bagadi succeeded in fully involving his fellow tribesmen and women making them understand, endorse and identify themselves with the party objectives. This public awareness building exercise of the Sheikh secured the unlimited tribal support and sustenance to the party. That half century ago exercise is still felt by the tribe enhancing to its cohesion and unity.

The objective of HDM being righteous cause made easy to be presented and acknowledged by the colonial authority. In vain, resulted, the heinous anti HDM propaganda meticulously propagated by the nomadic tribes. Said propaganda acted as catalysis to the full recognition of HDM as the sole political representative of the tribe. That was absolutely indigestible to the nomadic tribes.

Consequently they fiercely fought against the political gains of HDM and its progression towards power.
That cynic fight against the well defined political platform of HDM made Ben visible to the trustship authorities and to the rest of the concerned world community, the oppressive and hegemonic attitudes of
pastoralist Somalis against their sedentary brothers.

In 1952, as Ustaad Osman came out from a mosque in Mogadishu, on his way back to home, a mercenary killer hired by the SYL cold bloodedly killed him. That qualified & competent Secretary General's barbaric cold blooded killing was the first political assassination in modern Somali politics.

In this way the cause he was spearheading the attainment of a federal system for Somalia suffered a retard, whose destabilizing effects are still being resented half a century after. In early 1956, HDM convened a national congress in order to under take a qualitative jump. There, the party was renamed as HISBI DASTUUR EL MUSTAQILA SOOMAAL (HDMS).

In this way the tribe had its national party in order to actively play their role constructively in shaping the destiny of the nascent republic. The party adherents were advised to be watchful and care for the safety of their leaders.

The charismatic Sheikh together with his new Secretary General Abdulkadir Mohamed Aden, benevolently known as Zoppe made strident progress in advancing the cause of federalism as the ideal option to the Somali nation.

They also secured for their party the privileged status of being consulted on national issues by the trustship authority. In this way they succeeded on that HDMS party be invited to the UN Security Council meeting at the end of year 1956 on equitable basis with the SYL as representatives of the Somali people.

This invitation frightened the SYL to the limits of desperation & exasperation. They were fully aware of the righteousness of the HDMS party platform. There was a very high probability that the Security Council endorse the proposed independent federal structure for Somalia which was conceived, lobbied and advocated for by the HDMS party.

In the optics of the by nature aggressive Somali nomadic tribes under the leadership of SYL, this was to be absolutely avoided at all cost. Soon after the above historic invitation of HDMS & SYL to the Security Council, the UN Resident Representative for Somalia, H E Mohamed Kamalu Diin was killed in cold blood. This horrendous & barbaric act was a political plot aimed to discredit and if possible disband HDMS.

In fact, the Secretary General Mr. Zoppe & two of his friends were accused of having organized said
assassination & were jailed for it. For the party it was an easy task to defend its leaders at the court proving that they were innocent. This resulted in their immediate release. The Secretary General Mr. Zoppe, a natural born orator who dedicated his energy, enthusiasm & intellectual input to the clear development of federal policies had the honor to represent HDMS at that prestigious and powerful forum- the Security Council.

As Somalia attained independence under the SYL leadership, the pastoralists bombastic invasion of the well conserved Dighil-Mirifle lands commenced. Government authorities & merchants of nomadic origin grasped grand territories without seeking the least consent of the concerned inhabitants.

Thus, their fierce fight against federalism bore for them the expected fruits. They interpreted the centralized mode of governance as a legal justifying instrument for their "wild west like conquests ". The advent of the military coup d'etat was hailed by the Somali people, at the initial stage.

They hoped that the authoritative government shall rectify the injustice committed by the precedent civilian regimes. That was a short lived hope. The military regime acted to a certain extent as
catalyses to the conquest of the fertile land of Dighil-Mirifle tribe.

However the mischief of the military regime was absolutely not confined to the Dighil-Mirifle tribe. It affected all Somali tribes, communities & entities all over the territories of the Republic. This produced a
generalized "mal essere". Hence, the popular uprisings, the toppling of the regime and the subsequent civil wars.

These later years of non governance & the related excessive violence at the capital was characterized by the voluntary repatriations of hundreds of thousands of Somalis back to their regions of origin. They endeavored for the development of their towns transforming them into flourishing cities.

The developments attained at Hargheisa & Bossaso are vivid examples to that. This persuaded two major Somali tribes (The Dir & The Darood ) to endorse federalism as the most ideal political system for the future of Somalia .

Therefore, now the Dighil-Mirifle tribe is not any more solitary in the quest for federalism but enjoy the company of a broad based majority. In accordance to Hegel theory of crisis Somalia is projected towards a higher synthesis of qualitative forward jump after this crisis. However the retrograde forces have not yet surrendered to the idea. This has been visible at Arta ( Djibouti ) peace conference.

There it has been endorsed by the peace delegates, the adoption of federal system to Somalia entrusting the TNG for the establishment of basic federal structures. The TNG charter, precisely pinpoint so. Unfortunately the election of HE Abdiqasim Salaad, as the president of Somalia had doomed to nullity the establishment of the envisaged federal system. That was expectable to the rare far sighted Somali politicians.

The fact that he was originator of the Hawiye tribe who detain and illegally exploit the failed state properties as well as the personal properties such as houses, farms etc, who also invaded many regions of Dighil-Mirifle tribe during these years of non governance make him an arch enemy to federalism.

As the above notion became lampant, the Somali people constructively reacted to this two steps backward trend to federalism. Therefore, the establishment of SRRC & the isolation of the TNG, obliging it to attend the Somali National Reconciliation Conference (SNRC), without the least pre-conditions here in Kenya.

The adoption of a federal charter with a precise timetable for its execution was a historic victory to the Somali people. The election of HE Abdillahi Yousuf Ahmed as the President of Federal Somalia was a qualified choice & guarantee for said realization, its consolidation & functionality.

Retrograde forces predominated by the Hawiye are fully intentioned to sabotage this popular victory. As there was no other way open to them in order to counter said popular victory, undignified as they are they obscenely declared themselves as the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). They changed the obsolete political denomination of USC into UIC. That is it. This is a plight full tentative of deceit of the poor Somali people.

Is there any essence of religiosity in UIC? No. I repeat, absolutely there is not any trace or essence of religiosity in UIC. The fact that they are still detaining looted personal & public properties, make them unreligious. There are many other factors which qualify them so also. They are using this religious denomination to camouflage their greed for political power. With said denomination they intend to further protract the sufferance of the people.

These people who dismantled the state factories & sold them abroad, who are still dwelling in looted residences from their unarmed brothers, who are exaggeratingly exploiting the natural resources of the regions they occupied, I wonder how can they claim to be Islamic? No way!!!.

The other question is why they attempted to assassinate me? In replying this question I feel tongue or pen tied. "Nin is faanshay waa ri is nuugtay" inhibit me to affront this question. Nevertheless I have to reply it for the sake of clarity & proper information.

The UIC identify me as the actual most involved & qualified Somali intellectual able to coherently & constructively contribute to the realization of the Somali people aspiration in the attainment of a just full
& functioning federal system to Somalia.

This is because of my youth background connection with the Dighil-Mirifle popular emancipatory movement & quest for federalism. It is because of my educational background which has been shaped by the a/m sensibility to the people's aspiration. Due to that I had my master-ate specializing in constitutional rights & reforms.

It is because of my past work experience in which I have practically covered every office & positions of the Ministry of justice becoming later on a practicing lawyer. More importantly it is because of my political militancy always being actively present at every forum the destiny of the Somali people was being discussed, lobbying & advocating for a federal system for my country, ridiculing those lapidatory attacks from hostile elements.

Accordingly I have successfully participated at Addis-Ababa peace conference, the Arta (Djibouti) where I posed my candidacy for the highest state post the Presidency- and decisively contributed to the formulation of the actual federal charter at there- the Somali National Reconciliation Conference at Kenya.

Most important of all, is the fact that I am now the officially elected Chairman of Somali Parliamentary Commission of the Constitution and Federal Affairs. That is the commission entrusted with the noble task of effectively realizing a federal system to Somalia. It is this committee which has to set aside every stepping stone, surmount every difficulty that might arise paving the way for a functional & just full federal system.

As that way forward to federalism has been well defined, now that the experienced & far sighted President of the Republic has chosen a competent & convinced federalist Prime Minister who in turn chose competent, prominent & very popular Ministers to the dockets which has to do with the realization of federalism, here we are testimony of the poisonous, hysteric and extremely destabilizing acts of the enemy, in response to said qualitative as well as quantitative jump toward federal democratic Somalia.

The instant re-invigoration of the decade moribund Islamic Courts, their cynic & inhuman eliminatory policy of their political opponents, particularly those busy in the realization of the federal system are counter action to our government victories. I hereby allude to the two well organized assassination attempts of Hon. Prof. Ali Mohamed Gheedi. I allude to the far more reaching horrific exactly El Qaaida methodology attempt of eliminating the President of the Republic HE Abdillahi Yousuf Ahmed.

Assuring is the fact that the five assassination tentatively undertaken by the enemy against the Somalia political leaders who spear head for federalism only one attained the expected scope. That itself is a victory to the government and the people. This is thanks to the grace & protection of Allah. That is prelude to our eventual final victory over the enemy of the people UIC.

In conclusion, as is here briefly exposed, it is a series of political plots and related criminal activities aimed at distorting the wishes of the Somali people. It is a futile attempt of suffocating the aspiration of the people. It is a hysteric acts aimed to avoid the unavoidable. History, indicate so.

HE Jamal Abdul Nasir clearly noted that THE WISH OF THE PEOPLE IS THE WILL OF ALLAH.

Therefore LONG LIVE TO THE TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA
AND VICTORY TO THE TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA

Maayland family are fully apologizing to his Hon. Adv. Ahmed Ibrahim , for any inconvenience the article mentioned below may've caused or if it ever one find it something undermines the safety of his well being, but one should remember someone has already attempted to assassinate him without provocation, and we still have to respond to the uneasiness situation that the targeted loyalist Digil and Mirifle Politicians are facing, surely the article will have no significant impact the reality on the ground, but instead confirming it, neither it prevents central Somalia culture of elimination nor provokes one.

And a well-informed specialist such as Sister Amina Shobley whose sources from Baidoa know deeply what's going on, was extremely concerned about the incident as well as the aftershock! No culprits was ever brought to justice, even no witnesses ever questioned while the victim was still unconscious almost bled to death or after his recovery, and this indicates only one conclusion that nobody cared and had the intention to arrest anyone! Something that's not out of the extraordinary in Somalia when it comes to killing a Digil Mirifle person or Looma ooyaan.

You can say; it is only; "customary Digil and Mirifle politician to be assassinated after the prayer time". So, they can amuse themselves by saying; "he is lucky to die outside Mosque" it is an old Mareehan saying! Today neither The TFG, nor The Somali Media were ever concerned about the incident, so, Maayland must give a thoughtful consideration to those who send their opinion to Maayland_Press be heard, especially from those who hail from Somali Maay Population whom Maayland committed lifting up their cause above the perpetrators, whether they agree or not Col. Abdullahi Yusuf's "TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA LIVE LONGER" or Col. Hassan Dahir Aweys's ISLAMIC COURT UNION LIVE LONGER. "

It is well known fact that The Ethiopians are learning today it's reality, its soldiers facing the hit and run tactics from central Somalia. These gangs with the same culture are the make up of the same fascia of single coin". So, if one pleases with the SRRC didn't do it, then let us say; "The Arta ICU did it" or who is in between! An ex-members of both groups that changes their mood like the the weather; but will still hail from central Somalia even though their base can be in Asmara today and Kampala tomorrow.

Dear Brothers/Sisters,

I hereby formally denounce an abuse of confidence, deformation of first hand information, defamation of personality & baseless speculations carried out by MaayLand web master against me. Sometime ago, a gentleman or apparently so - approached me stating that he is one of the major stake holders of MaayLand web site & invited me to contribute an article to said web site on my attempted assassination. Voluntarily I endorsed his request handing him the here attached & a photograph.

Unfortunately, only the photo depicting my wounds has been missplaced on an article said to be prepared by Ms. Amina Shobley. That name is as far as I understand is unknown at Bulo Marey & surroundings. Worse & of particular gravity is that said article of the pseudo lady is poorly articulated, difficult to decipher & above all does not repeat not convey my point of views.

In this particularly decisive moment of the Somali history in which martyrs such as the late Abdalla Deerow Issaq (May Allah eternally bless his soul) & valiant heroes are risking their lives on daily basis, the above referred article which appeared at MyLand with a strange date is a very poorly envisaged speculation aimed at blocking or distorting the natural flow of history.

Sarcastic & absolutely unacceptable is that the article, insinuate that H.E. Abdillahi Yousuf, the President of Federal Republic of Somalia is behind the above referred assassination as well as my attempted one.
This is blasphemy in its most cruel & inhuman exposition. The question which logically arise is then who is behind the most dangerously articulated assassination attempt of the President himself? Those who attempted the life of the President are those who killed the late Abdalla & who attempted my life.

Therefore, for the sake of judicious journalism & appropriate information, Ihereby advice MaayLand webmaster to desist from such speculations which only hinders the image of the web. Grateful that the webmasters of PuntLand & BuurHakaba dedicate also space to this note and the related attached article of mine.

Yours Sincerely
Hon. Adv. Ahmed Ibrahim Mohamed
Chairman of Somali Parliamentary Commission of The constitution & Federal
Affaires.

ahmedibrahim_mhmd@yahoo.com

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 July 2007 )

walii war nag eh adi taabiyaaso inii qobto; fadlan in ki dir: safe_humanity@yahoo.com

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