A Day Somalis Need To Mark More Than Any Other International Events

A Day Somalis Need To Mark More Than Any Other International Events

               By Said Mohamed Gelle

Somalia shares with the international community various international observance days set by the United Nations in order to commemorate events assigned for certain purposes such as the  International Women’s Day, Human Rights Day, World Health Day, International Day for Zero tolerance to Female genital Mutilation, International Mothers Day, International Malaria Day to name a few, but Somalis do not celebrate or promote with the other parts of the world the event ‘the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’ that falls on 21th of March as they do the other aforementioned international events. But what it is not yet debated is why they do not give the respect to that day deserves, which as I believe have more important impact for Somalis than any other international observances as long as the cultural segregation of our minority societies exist in our country.

If the United Nations assigned this day for the protection of the oppressed communities around the world why not Somalis follow suit and mark this day a national day to eradicate this cruel and primitive culture of marginalisation and discrimination against sections of the most vulnerable Somali society (Beelaha la hayb sooco or qabiilooyinka la quursado) who have been suffering untold miseries for decades if not centuries and still subjugated on daily bases. This event would have been used as a day to:

1-Recognize and promote the respect of our and marginalised discriminated Somali minority communities mainly those labelled the above names.

2- Strongly condemn the discrimination, racial superiority and injustice victimisations of same groups of our Somali communities ‘Beelaha  la  hayb sooco’,

3- Urge the Somali government, the existing federal states or other political entities in Somalia to safeguard and uphold the rights including and most importantly the power sharing quota of the minority Somali clans specially those discriminated based on their traditional labour and careers such as: Madhibaan, Yibir, Gabooye, Tumaal, Yaxar, Muse Dhari and many more of oppressed Somali clans.

4-Recognise the significant contribution of these communities for the betterment of our nation’s history such as the struggle of the independence, their undeniable participation of our arts and culture, the promotion of peace and prosperity and the current reconstruction of our country’s economy and infrastructure.

5- Somali intellectuals show solidarity to our fellow Somali brothers in blood and flesh who have long been suffering the infliction of humiliation, mistreatment and intimidation by other dominant clans of in Somalia.

6- Eliminate the social segregation and cultural stigma, to promote equality and encourage intermarriages between these vulnerable societies and the dominant Somali clans and finally

7- A day to say in a loud voice ‘enough is enough -this old and barbaric culture must stop and be discontinued’.
The inhuman socio-economic culture has long been going on in every region of Somalia and now have spread it’s practices as seen recently to Europe, North America and the other countries around the world that Somalis live in order to inflict the same discrimination of their forefathers and instil fear in to the new generation of these innocent victimised Somali communities in the West and back home.

Majority of Somali people believe the persecution of religious leaders of 1970s is the foundation factor of the failure of the Somali State and that the civil wars, anarchism, instability and the mass suffering of the Somali people in everywhere of the world since 1990 are punishment from Allah due to that persecution by the president Siyad Barre’s regime, but I believe if the punishment of Allah on Somalis is true than it is due to the historical and still ongoing injustices made against these groups of our Somali society (Dadka la hayb sooco) that we share with one culture, one language, and one religion.

As rightful citizens of Somalia, these communities have right to participate the political structures and the decision making processes in every corner of Somalia and have the right to enjoy same respect similar to those of other Somali clans.

So how do we intensify the equality of our society and preserve the rights of minority groups?

Considering the enormous historical and developmental contributions made by these oppressed groups in our society such as the struggle of independence, the promotion of our music and arts, their capacity of the workforce throughout our country. It can be concluded that these groups ought to be developed if equality and social cohesion is to take place all over Somalia. It is evident that if an opportunity of education is given to these oppressed groups in our society, they can perform marvellously the same standard if not better to that of other Somalis. Education can be used as a tool to uproot the inequality of our people. There is a need, therefore, to prioritise these groups in education in every administrative zone of Somalia by using the ‘positive discrimination’ method which is practically permitted and justifiable within the rule of law. Educating these groups will enormously play a great role in the equality, security economic development in our society.

Engaging anti-discrimination awareness campaigns to advocate the rights of these groups through religious sermons in Mosques and other gathering places will also make huge improvement and help tackle this practice.

To celebrate this remarkable international day for the elimination of racial discrimination, I share with you selection of Abwan Hadrawi’s Dhulgariir poem which deeply touches my inner thoughts. The poem points out the painful circumstances these communities of ours are going through on daily bases for so long, and how they have been migrating from their ancestral homeland for search of equality an justice.

Godka dhidarka beelaha qotow, dhowr kal baa hadhaye
Hadduu dhiillo leeyahay dulmigu, waad ka dheregteene
Intaad weel manno ah dhaamiseen, waa dheg weyntahaye
Dhamacdiyo dabkaad quudateen maaha dhalanteede.
Nin xaqiina meel hoos dhigay, tiisu waa dhedo’e

Dhirbaaxooyinkii quudhsigaa dhuunta yuurura’e,
Haddii dhagar inaad gaysataan laabtu dhigi waydo
Dhanka Eebbahay xiga adduun, wayska dhalanteede.

Said Mohamed Gelle
Email: saacidiin@hotmail.com
London, United Kingdom