DATE: 05/05/2008 04:04:27 / MOOD: Lonely
1928 Born in Odweine, to Haji Ibrahim Egal and Khadija Mohamed
Osman.Mohamed completed his primary, intermediate, and secondary
education in former British Somaliland and then went to Britain for further
studies where he stayed from 1950-54. Egal married Asha Saeed Abby in 1946
together they had three sons and two daughters.1956 Mohamed H. Ibrahim
Egal became the Berbera branch Secretary of Somali National League Party (SNL).
Later in 1958 he became the Secretary General of the Party. 1960, June
26 When Somaliland gained independence, Egal became the first Prime Minister of
Somaliland. Italian Somali territory became independent four days later on July
1, and the two countries united to form the Somali Republic.1960 - 1962
Egal became Minister of Defense of the former Somali Republic.1962 -
1963 Egal was appointed the Minister of Education1962, October Egal led
a delegation to London to negotiate the NFD problem with British leaders. His
delegation persuaded and obtained from the British Government a referendum in
the Northern Frontier District (NFD). In the same period, he led another
delegation to Kenya to organize the referendum which found 83% in favour of
joining with the Somali Republic.1963 Egal resigned from the cabinet and
formed an opposition party. He was against the severing of diplomatic ties with
the UK on the question of NFD. He formed Somali National Congress (SNC) Party
and remained the leader of the Parliament Opposition 1965.1966, October
Egal joined the Somali Youth League (SYL) Party.1967 Egal was appointed
the third Prime Minister of the Somali Republic. 1969, October 21
Mohamed Siad Barre deposed the civilian government in a coup. Egal was jailed
soon afterwards by the coup leader's military government. Egal was kept in jail
for the next 6 years.1975, October Mohamed H. Ibrahim Egal was released
from jail.1976, July Egal was appointed Ambassador to India.1976
Mohamed H. Ibrahim Egal was re-arrested.1982, February Egal was released
6 years after his re-arrest. Soon after his release Egal was appointed chairman
of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.1993 Mohamed H.
Ibrahim Egal was elected President of Somaliland in a national conference held
in Borama.1995, May President Egal's mandate was extended for 18
months.1997 President Egal was reelected for five more years. President
Egal was now married to Kaltun Haji Deria. 2001, December The House of
elders extended President Egal's term for one more year.2002, April 24
President Egal was taken to South Africa for medical treatment, where few days
later he underwent medical tests.2002, May 3 President Egal died in a
Military Hospital in South Africa, after undergoing a surgery.2002, May
6 The body of the President was flown home, arriving at Berbera at 7:15AM. The
president was buried, according to his wishes, next to the grave of his father,
H. Ibrahim Egal.
rest in peace
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DATE: 12/11/2007 09:54:07 / MOOD: General
In praise Of Somaliland
A Beacon of Hope in the Thorn of Africa
by Peter Tatchell.
THIS year’s civil war in Somalia has killed thousands of people and created
over half a million refugees. Democracy, the rule of law and respect for human
rights are almost non-existent in Mogadishu, where war, banditry, corruption,
hunger, illiteracy, disease and unemployment are the norm. Somalia is a failed
state that has failed its people.
In contrast, the north-west breakaway region of the Republic of Somaliland is
an oasis of peace, stability and progress in the Horn of Africa. Imperfect, but
moving in the right direction, in May this year the country celebrated its
sixteenth anniversary of independence.
Against all odds, and with little international recognition or aid, the three
million people of Somaliland have – largely by their own efforts – begun to
establish a secure, functioning democratic state and a fair degree of economic
stability and growth. This is a truly remarkable achievement in a region of
Africa that has long been a byword for chaos, repression and war.
Somaliland, a former British Protectorate, gained independence in 1960 and
became the first free Somali nation to join the United Nations.
In a unity move that most Somalilanders now deeply regret, the country joined
with the former Italian protectorate to the south to form the Republic of
Somalia.
Under the dictator Siad Barre, who seized power in a military coup in 1969,
the new nation was beset by brutality. Following the collapse of his military
regime and of the Somali state, Somali-land declared independence on 18th May
1991.
Over the last decade and a half, the predominantly Muslim nation has made the
transition from an autocratic clan-based society, notorious for its poor
governance, conflict and human rights abuses, to a peaceful and progressive
multi-party democracy.
A referendum in 2001 led to the adoption of a new constitution. Since then,
Somalilanders have held successful elections for President, the House of
Representatives and local government. While Somalia has not had a free election
since the 1960s, Somaliland has held three mandates since the turn of the
millennium, each of which has been declared free and fair by international
election observers.
In contrast to the intestinal conflicts that bedevil Somalia and many other
African nations, Somaliland has found a way to negotiate and resolve these
rivalries peacefully. It has bought previously hostile clans together in a
pluralistic system that minimises conflict by incorporating the clan elders into
the advisory upper house.
Somalilanders have achieved an enviable peace, progressively disarming and
demobilising thousands of gunmen, while in Somalia militias still run amok,
looting, extorting and terrorising the local population. Many of Somaliland’s
former clan fighters have also been successfully incorporated into the
disciplined national army. And unlike many of her neighbours, the armed forces
stay out of politics.
Moreover, Somaliland is country committed to the rule of law, upheld by an
independent judiciary. Discrimina-tion on the grounds of ethnicity, gender or
opinion is prohibited, and human rights abuses, such as torture, are criminal
offences. The right to protest is protected by law.
Somaliland is not yet a fully-fledged democracy, and its unwavering
observance of human rights is still a long way off. Somaliland has a multi-party
system but only three political parties are allowed under the constitution.
Islam is the state religion, and while non-Islamic faiths are tolerated, their
promotion is prohibited. Muslims are not permitted to renounce Islam, and the
legal system is based on Sharia law. Although rarely enforced with harshness,
this does nevertheless place inherent restrictions of the rights of women. The
female sex is poorly represented in public life and state institutions, although
the constitution does give women the right to employment training and property
ownership. Government corruption and inefficiency are not as bad as in many
other African nations, but they remain a problem according to critics of the
regime.
Somaliland’s significantly improved record on human rights suffered a setback
earlier this year with the arrest of four journalists from the independent
newspaper Haatuf. They were only released at the end of March, after
being detained for 86 days on charges of allegedly spreading false information
and offending the President. This worrying abuse of press freedom was, however,
an exceptional curtailment of what is nowadays a fairly open and free media.
Despite these flaws, Somalilanders have demonstrated, without any pressure
from the West, that a Muslim country can build a peaceful, democratic state
committed to upholding human rights. It is a model for Africa and the Middle
East.
Yet Somaliland remains unrecognised as a sovereign nation. While the United
Nations and the international community focus their attention on the civil war
in Somalia, Somaliland’s achievement in building a stable, harmonious nation is
unacknowledged and unrewarded. Betrayed by the Arab League and the African
Union, it stands alone.
Instead of singularly condemning Africa’s failures, isn’t it time the West
did more to recognise and support its successes?
Sweden and Germany are moving towards diplomatic recognition, but not
Britain. Somaliland wants to join the Commonwealth but has so far been rebuffed.
This rejection sends all the wrong signals.
It is time Britain changed course. We should push the Commonwealth and the
European Union to recognise Somaliland as an independent, sovereign state; and
lobby the African Union, the Arab League and the United Nations to do likewise.
A modest increase in British and EU aid and trade would go a long way to
strengthen Somaliland’s economic base. Tackling poverty and unemployment, and
improving health, education and housing, would help underpin and enhance
Somaliland’s development as a beacon in the region. Over to you, Gordon
Brown.
source (english)http://www.theliberal.co.uk/issue_11/columns/tatchell_11.html
< p>somali: www.hadhwanaagnews.com
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