Shatigaduud History - By Dhalib
It was in the middle of 1997, when I first met
Col. Mohamed Nuur Shatigaduud, in the outskirts of Baidoa town, where he was
leading Rahanweyn Resistant Army (RRA) fighters against General Aidid
occupation in Bay and Bakool.
I was one of the few Local UN humanitarian staff working these
areas at that time and trying to reach thousands of displaced people suffering
in Bay and Bakool area for the result of the conflict.
At that time we have received reports of thousands of people
dying for lack of food and disease for the result of wide spread conflict
between RRA and General Aidid militiaman.
Situation was extremely very bad and the fighting between
General Aidid militia and RRA intensified day after day. Thousands of people
were forced to flee from their houses and cough in the fighting’s.
People had nothing to eat, some of the people forced to dig
underground and eat grass nuts for their daily meal and water availability was
difficult. One of the trips I have made to the region I have seen my eyes very
discouraging situations in Wajid areas, people were scattered all around the
areas, some of them very slim and could not able to walk, many died in the
roads, malnutrition was its highest peak among children. Some of the people I
met said to me very scaring stories, but all these situations encouraged me to
continue what job.
My trip started from Bardere town of Gedo region (where we had
sub-office) to Goofgaduud Buurey of Baidoa areas via road (170) Km rough road,
with me a truck of 10 tons of nutrition supplies to distribute malnutrition
children that were suffering in the areas of Baidoa town. There were also
reports of watery diarrhoea among children in these areas and I had as well
some chlorine and ORS supplies with me. Access was very difficult and
vulnerable people were scattered different places. Most of the places where we
used to travel were no man land, no proper local authorities and there were
free militiamen moving.
There was really very risk to perform this kind of trip and it
needed to be very carefully during the trip and all movements. There was no
proper telephone, but used HF radios only. But for the sake of the suffering my
people, I had nothing to worry and my target was to reach these people.
On my way to Baidoa, I have passed many villages including
Eesow, Ufurow, Qansaxdhere, until I came Foolfeyle of Bardale area. When I came
Foolfelye village, we were told that there are mines buried in this road and we
cannot continue our journey to Goofgaduud Buurey.
I have seen as well two military vehicles burned in the road by
mine, just 200 meters where we were stopped. But with the help of a very young
boy 15-17 years from Foolfyle village, we were guided and managed to continue
out trip, this was terrible experience for my life. Thanks as well the driver
of the vehicle I was using Madey Boorow that was very experienced man and
intelligent and had good knowledge of the area.
We were informed that there were two main IDP (Internal
displaced persons) camps Eldon and Dhanqooq areas in just few miles from Baidoa
town, where the other side Jen Aidid militiamen based. People in these areas
were under alert everyday and expecting attack from Gen Aid militiamen. The
displace people and the RRA fighters were mixed and it was very difficult for
humanitarian workers to separate of them and to reach the displaced people,
that was our target.
In order to do this task and the local leaders, I have managed
my first time in 1997 to met the leader of RRA Col. Mohammed Hassan Nuur
(Shaargaduud) Eldon - Goofgaduud Buurey areas around 30 KM from Baidoa, in a
small bush like IDPs shelter, no sort of beds, no mattress, no house
decorations and he was sitting an old sacks and grass with his two RRA
deputies, Sheikh Aden Madoobe and Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade and many other young
RRA militia leaders.
My first impression Col. Shargaduud seemed very simple, kind and
calm person. After the greetings, I have informed the purpose of my trip and
the mission. In fact, immediately after the briefing I have got the green light
to continue my trip to do the necessary assessment to understand the real
humanitarian situations in the nearby villages. He encouraged me to perform my
work without condition and Shaargaduud mentioned to me the first priory in the
areas despite the serious food shortages was chlorination of water points
(water treatment), particular the villages where there was cases of diarrhoea
among children and almost no medical supplies, no proper health personal in
these communities.
Despite the security constraints, my trip ended successful and I
could say that mass of humanitarian interventions managed to focus the
vulnerable people in Bay, Bakool and Gedo after this trip. The other important
influential colleagues for humanitarian interventions at this period and those
I still remember in my mind were: Late Dr. Ayub Sheikh Yerow, Mohamed Ahmed
Alasow, Dr. Salad Ducaale and Nuurto Abdulkadir Sheikh, all EX- UNICEF Somalia
staff.
After three weeks of RRA recaptured in Baido 6 June 2009, I and
with late colleague Dr. Ayuub Sheikh Yerow, who was the Officer in charge for
the office (UNICEF/Baioda) at the time have met again Shaargaadud and his
administration in Baidoa. Shaaraduud played key role for humanitarian
organizations to return Baidoa safely. Almost Baidoa become one of the quietest
places in Somalia and Humanitarian Hub for Cenral and Southern zone, ten
regions in Somalia. Local and International staff used to play football at Dr.
Ayub football stadium in Baidoa, it was fantastic time.
Truly Shaargaduud was not a man with personnel demands, but
mostly the demands of his people in large. He liked to listen to the people and
give short response always; he used always to avoid conflict with him and the
humanitarian organization.
Many life saving activities that Humanitarian organizations
conducted in the areas during 1998-2002 that saved millions of people in this
region would not be possible without the open and the honest characters of
Shaarguud and his administration at the time in Baidoa. Many times he used to
ask and encourage the humanitarian organizations to undertake projects that are
benefit for the people and are sustainable.
When RRA administration changed in to as the Federal regional
Administration system (Somali South West Administration with sex regions) that
was announced in Baidoa, 2 April 2002, I was also in Baidoa and attended the
inauguration ceremony. Unfortunately, with few months only the administration
could not continue to survive in Baidoa and RRA started to split and fight with
in them. In July 2002, another humanitarian disaster started and these fighting
caused Shatigaduud led militiamen to flee from Baidoa to Wajid and surrounding
areas.
Sarmaandheer – Peace Initiative in Wajid district of Bakool
region
I was the beginning of August 2005 when late Mr. Moallim Isaak,
knew as (Moallin Jiis) former Wajid district commissioner (DC) approached to me
and one of my humanitarian colleague Isaak Ali Subag in Wajid district of
Bakool region, where we were temporary working as humanitarian staff, and the
DC requested us to help him for peace attempt to solve the conflict between RRA
sides.
In fact for me, as humanitarian worker, It was very difficult to
involve this task , but for the sake of my people that was suffering conflict
and I belong to the community , I have accepted to take part in this important
work with very low profile. One other hand, I felt as well was the necessary
and the obligations that is missing for someone to do it this important work.
Our role, Isaaq Subag and myself was to give the District
Commissioner Moallim Jiis the necessary ideas, our experience for conflict
handling, and technical guidance to this peace process. We were not experts of
conflict resolution handling, but with our experience of working in conflict
environment in Somalia for many years and our job required to undertake
humanitarian access negations with the community leaders and the good
relationship we had with the community leaders showed great positive chance to
this process. One other think I read from my mind was that peace and
humanitarian interventions are friends and cannot be separated. The children
those are suffering under this conflict they want only to reach someone by any
means, but in a peacefully way.
our first day the low profile peace initiative was curried by
late Moallim Isaak, Wajid District commissioner, Isaak Ali subag and myself in
Wajid and come up with a plan to start the peace reconciliation between RRA
leaders in the region. One of the main tasks was to empower the community
leaders in the area, mobilize and to understand them to take active leadership
for this peace process. The other important issue was to undertake fundraising
within the community resources available in Wajid and Baidoa. Do not relay what
you do not have in your pocket. This philosophy worked really.
I would like to mention as well one of the best contributors to
this Sarmaandheer peace meeting was, Sheikh Ibrahim Abdullahi, Abdirahmaan Elay
and his wife Mariam Dhakalow for their facilitating necessary financial aspect
to the peace meeting. Thanks some funds received from UK at the time, from
Amina Mohamed Mursal, at later date she become TFG minster in Somalia 2006 and
I met her many times in Baidoa.
Shatigaduud was the first person we have approached and we met
him in Wajid and the first day of the meeting he gave us the go ahead the peace
initiative without any condition and he showed us that he had much confidence
to the peace initiative team and this was important for us.
At the time 2005, Shatigaduud and some of his supporters were
staying in Wajid, despite he was as well TFG Minister of Agriculture, and he
was not satisfied to this post. Shaargaduud was living in the collapsed former
Wajid hospital with some of his bodyguards. The condition of the building was
extremely very poor and dirty, no windows, no door, no hygiene aspect at all,
but Shaargaduud preferred to stay there for the sake of his people. He did not
wanted to sleep in a hotel or proper house, but all the time he was happy and
at least his dream was one day his people would unite and life better condition
and peace.
Shaargaduud was suffering diabetes, Type 1 and other disease, he
was having difficult to get insulin injection, and always he used to ask help
someone travelling to Kenya and buy insulin. His stay in Wajid was full of
risky but, he did for the sake of the people.
The voluntary reconciliation team in Wajid late Moallim Isaak (
Moallim Jiis), former Wajid DC, Isaak Ali Subag, and myself used to meet every
night at around (09:00 till 12:00) pm, because this issue was very sensitive
and we did not want information to go out before everything were settle well.
After five days of the peace initiative, we have managed to
communicate Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade and his team while they were in Baidoa and
we had shared our objectives and the peace we wanted to undertake in our
community.
Two days after first contact with Habsade, what we have
encountered Habsade was very encouraging but cautious. Habsade told us the
initiative is good but he is very worrying the security and the location of the
meeting. He was also suspecting if any other hand could involve this
reconciliation meeting. But after three other round nights of talking with
telephone, we have convinced Habsade and his team and accepted to meet
Shaatigaduud and start dialogue. This was one of the best thing that I have
managed for my life. The team were also very happy, and really relieved. We had
as well other parrellel communications with Sheikh Aden Madoobe and he was very
helpful and welcomed the initiative.
Since Shatigaduud was staying in Wajid and the other group in
Baidoa (90 Km distance), we came up with en plan the meeting to be held in
Sarmaandheeer village which is located Berdale district of Bay region and it
was almost the centre of the two sides. Both of the sides accepted this
proposal. It was other step forward to the peace in the region.
Now , it become easy to involve elders in Wajid and take the
leadership and one of the respected community elders, Malaaq Ali Bare took the
leadership with many other elders in Wajid areas. Thanks as well the community
in Wajdi in large that gave good morale support to this process and the only
story that people used to talk was the peace meeting between the RRA sides.
The first one day peace meeting was held in Sarmaandheer village
on 05 September 2005, where Shargaduud and Mohamed Ibrahim Habasde met and it
was one of the such first meeting to happen after RRA conflict in the Baidoa
July 2002. Logistic support were organized both Baidoa and Wajid and this was
unbelievable. The outcome of this meeting was very positive, although no
concrete points agreed, but at least the communities living in the areas of
Baidoa started to travel peacefully, many checkpoints were disappeared
automatic and the road between Baidoa and Wajid now improved access. Thousands
of cheering communities in the area started to greet each other and
congratulate.
After one year of the Sarmaandher meeting another big meeting
were followed and held in Wajid February 2006 where many elders, TFG
parliamentarians from Digil and Mirelfe attended the meeting. The action points
agreed this meeting was almost the ending of the conflict of RRA in the region.
( The action points of this meeting I Somali version sharing with you below)
During my humanitarian car in Somalia from 1991-2009, I have got
the change to meet many different kinds of local authorities in Bay, Bakool,
Gedo, Midd Jubba, and as well middle Shebelle and Mohamed Nuur (Sharargaduud)
was one of the kindest, easy going, understandable, strong commitment, liked
Somalia in large, treated all people equal, good hearth, wide vision and peace
maker that I ever met.
Despite he had a big vision to undertake Somali Southwest
regional administration for sex regions, but he was only one person and as
Somali proverb says, one finger can not wash a face. I Hope someone will take
over and continue this kind of style of peace in the community and in Somalia
at large.
NB: (1) In the report includes names or pictures
for some of community leader those died and I pray almighty Allah rest their
soul in peace and Janatul fardowsa.
(2) The pictures in this report was taken 2006 in Wajid with the
help of col. Ahmed Nur Mayow, former chairperson Community Care Centre (CCC) in
Baidoa and now as Member of Somali parliament in Mogadishu.
(3) Somali version of this report would come in later date.
By: Abdulkadir Abukar Sheikh (Dhaalib)
Ex-Humanitarian worker in Somalia
Now: Chairman of Somali Arlaadi Relief Förening I Örebro
Email: aasheikh@live.com, Somali.arlaadi@hotmail.com
Örebro, Sweden
07 April 2013.
"Didiinglay dhamaateih"
Cajiib waad mahadsantahey xaaji isma laheen taarikhda adeerkey oo qoran ayaad heli doonta
ReplyDelete