The fall of Gedo: 26th Anniversary of Ethiopia’s Invasion on Gedo region

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Ibrahim Aden Shire
Tuesday August 9, 2022

On this day 26 years ago Ethiopia carried out an air and land invasion on the Gedo region, Somalia. Its air force bombarded Luq and Boholgaras indiscriminately while its ground troops attacked Balad-Hawo, and Dolow in addition to the above-mentioned towns. Ethiopia claimed that it targeted the Islamist bases and that it killed over 200 Al-Itihad militants and wounded many more. However, it did not spare anywhere it could reach, be residential houses, mosques or busy markets. Its troops, tanks and helicopters swept through those towns firing indiscriminately. Scores of civilians and Al-Itihad fighters were killed. Among the civilians killed in a mosque was the Luq district commissioner Aadan sheekh Hassan Gaas. Nevertheless, the invasion had far more disastrous consequences than the initial death and destruction it caused. Almost all the troubles that our country has seen since then go back to that very day in one way or the other.

Firstly this invasion has defined the future relationship between the Somali people and Ethiopian government. After this incursion Ethiopia’s attitude towards Somalia and its dealing with Somali people had dramatically changed. As the weaknesses and fissures of Somali leaders had been severely exposed, Ethiopian rulers cleverly capitalized it. Since then Ethiopia has been dealing with Somali people as fragmented unruly tribes which had no state. Immediately after the invasion, it developed a divide and rule policy which allowed her to bring border regions under its administration. It established a permanent presence in Gedo, Baay and Bakool. It had been expanding its influence on other regions, gradually bringing one after one under its rule. By 2005 the whole country came under its rule either directly or indirectly exempt two Jubbas, two Shabeelles and Banadir. And finally December 28th 2006 the whole country fell and the Ethiopian flag was raised over Villa Somalia.

Secondly on this day 26 years ago was when Al-shabaab was conceived which would be born 10 years later. This organization, which is the greatest danger the whole region is facing, started to evolve from that incident. After this aggression, Al-itihad fighters began gorilla war and adopted the same brutal and savage tactics that Al-shabaab use today including mining roads, beheading and assassinating civilians on mere suspicion. Al-Itihad leaders were divided on this issue and most of the top leaders opposed those actions and condemned them as unreligious. They demanded the war in Gedo to be stopped altogether several times. But others including Hasan Dahir Aweys, Ibrahim Afghan and Mohammed Haji Yusuf, the head of the so-called Gedo Emirate, insisted it was a rightful Jihad thus supporting its continuation. The annual general meeting of Al-Ictisaam (former Al-Itihad) was held in Mogadishu between 31/07/1999 and 5/08/1999. One of the outcomes of this conference was to stop the fighting in Gedo and lay down the guns. What would be Al-shabaab leaders refused to accept that declaration. Although they began their own separate conference and political and military movement, they remained under the Al-Ictisam banner until 2006 when they named themselves Al-Shabaab.

Therefore August the 9th invasion was central to what happened in our country in the years that followed to date. Yet no one asked why and how it happened nor did it attract the attention of scholars and researchers. Indeed it was forgotten all together. A forthcoming book written in Somali will try to fill this gap. The book will explore how we came to that day; who was responsible for the actions that provoked this attack and finally whether it could be avoided.

But for now let’s remember those who perished in that savage attack by making dua for all of them and sharing the names of those lucky ones whose names were recorded. I have taken the below list from the book Cadowkeennu Waa Kuma by Abdullahi Farah Ali. The list is not conclusive

Magaca	Qabiilka
1:Jaamac Cabdullahi Faarax	Marreexaan Celi
2: Cabdullahi Muxammed Tareey	Marreexaan reer Axmed
3: Cabdinaasir Cabdullahi Macallin	Marreexaan Wagardhac
4: Cabdirashiid Faarax Cali (Faarax Taano)	Marreexaan reer Diini Reer Siyaad
5: Cabdi Maxammed Xaashi	Marreexaan Uurmidig
6: Maxammed Sheekh Axmed	qolo uu yahay lama helin
7: Gaasow Xaashi Shire	Marreexaan reer Axmed
8: Ibrahim Maxammed Dhaqane	qoladiisa lama helin
9:Cabdi Axmed sheekhdoon	Marreexaan Wagardhac
10: Axmed Cabdi Faarax (Qablan)	Marreexaan reer Diini reer Siyaad
11: Ciise Cabdiraxmaan Ducaale	Marreexaan Calidheere
12:Cabdirisaaq Xasan Sh. Yuusuf	Marreexaan Calidheere
13: Cabdirisaaq Daahir Xirsi	Marreexaan reer Diini reer Warsame
14: Cabdirisaaq Axmed Warsame	qolodiisa lama helin
15: Axmed Ismaaciil Qoslaaye	Marreexaan Calidheere
16: Xasan Maxammuud Iinshaar	Marreexaan Calidheere
17: Cumar Khaliif Maxammuud	Marreexaan reer Axmed
18: Cabdiraxmaan Oogle Jaamac	Marreexaan reer Diini reer Ugaas Sharmaake
19: Amina Hurdaaye	Marreexaan Calidheere
20: Cabdiraxmaan Cabdi Cilmi	Marreexaan Wagardhac
21: Buulle Diiriye Ciye	Marreexaan Calidheere
22: Axmed Ibrahim Xuseen	Marreexaan Calidheere
23:Saciid Cabdikariin Warsame	Marreexaan Calidheere
24: Jaamac Cabdi Yarow	Absame Bartire
25 maxammed Cabdullahi Cali	Raxanweyn Laysaan
26 Maxammed Carab Maxammuud	Marreexaan Calidheere
27:Xuseen Shuqul	Marreexaan reer Cismaan
28:Cabdiqaadir Axmed Ciise	Marreexaan Wagardhac
29: Addeec Cali Hanbo	Marreexaan reer Axmed
30:Cali Cabdulle Hiire	Marreexaan reer Diini reer Dalal
31: Cabdikariin Cumar Aadan	Marreexaan reer Diini reer Allamagan Diini
31 Macallin Yuusuf Magaalle	Marreexaan reer Xasan
32: Macallin Aadan Cabdinuur	Marreexaan reer Xasan
33: Cabdirashiid Cumar Cilmi	Marreexaan reer Diini reer Shirwac Diini
34: Xuseen Ooyow Soomow	Murale
35: Maxammuud sheekh Faarax	Marreexaan reer Axmed
36 Cabdi Cali Gargaar	Marreexaan reer Axmed
37 Yuusuf Caydiid Biixi	Marreexaan reer Axmed
38: Maxammed Umal Iinshaar	Marreexaan Calidheere
39:Cabdinaasir sheekh Xasan	Marreexaan reer Xasan
40: Ibraahin Magaalle	Marreexaan reer Xasan
41: sheekh Maxammed Xasan Cali	Dir Gariire
42: Maxammed Cabdi Guure	Ogaadeen Cawlyahan
43: Xasan Cabdiwaaxid sh Cabdullahi	Marreexaan reer Garaad
44: Maxammuud Faarax Maxammed	Marreexaan Calidheere
45: Cumar Xaaji Aadan	Marreexaan reer Diini reer Siyaad
46: Muuse sheekh Cabdi	Marreexaan reer Yabar
47: Cabdinuur sheekh Xasan	Ogaadeen Cawlyahan
48: Bishaar Duge dhaqane	Marreexaan reer Axmed
49: Cabdirashiid Haajir	Dir Fiqi Muxummed
50 Siyaad Yuusuf Coogweyne		Ogaadeen
51 Cabdullahi Faarax		qolodiisa lama helin
52: Cabdirashiid Xasan Mursal		Marreexaan reer Yabar
53; Mahad Gamaaddiid		Absame Galimays
54: Saciid Xasan Maxammed		Marreexaan Calidheere
55: Maxammed Cabdi		Marreexaan reer Xasan
56: Aadan Sh Xasan Gaar (Wuxuu ahaa gudoomiyihii Luuq marka la dilayo)		Marreexaan reer Diini reer Siyaad
57: Cabdirashiid Yoontooy		Hawiye Wacdaan
58: Xasan Cali Isaaq		Garre
59: Sh Maxammed Faarax		Ogaadeen Cawilyahan
60: Maxammed Cali Jaamac		Majeerteen
61: Xasan Maxammed Qase		Marreexaan reer Axmed
62: Rashiid Ilyaas Cumar		Marreexaan reer Xasan
63: Aadan Cabdi Salaad		Ogaadeen Cawlyahan
64: Axmed Sheekh Cali		reer Axmed
65: Maxammed Aadan (Abuu Diyana)		Madhibaan
66: Macallin Bashiir Maxammed		Ogaadeen Cawlyahan
67: Maxammed Cabdullahi		Ogaadeen
68: Xuseen Maxammed Warsame		Marreexaan Reer Garaad
69: Cabdiraxmaan Baarreey		Ogaadeen Cawlyahan
70: Axmed Cismaan Xaaji Cabdi		Marreexaan Calidheere
71: Cismaan Cabdi Maxammed		Dhulbahante
72: Aadan Caddow Xasan		Marreexaan reer Xasan
73: Cabdinuur Cabdinaasir Xaashi		Majeerteen
74: Aadan Cismaan Maxammed		Marreexaan reer Xasan
75: Cabdullahi Xuseen Qoriyow		Marreexaan reer Xasan
76: Cali sheekh Cabdulle		Marreexaan reer Axmed
77: Cabdikariin Yuuruf Garre		Awrtable
78: Aadan Axmed Qablan		Marreexaan reer Diini reer Siyaad
79: Bashiir Wali Sulub		Dir Gaadsan
80: Maxammed Saciid Macallin		Marreexaan Talxe
81: Muuse Abshir Aadan		Raxanweyn Gabaaweyn
82: Cabdiraxmaan Sh Ismaaciil		Marreexaan Celi
83: Bashiir Dheelmooy		Marreexaan Hawraarsame
84: Cabdishakuur Abshir Cartan		Marreexaan Wagardhac
85: Maxammed Cabdiqaadir		Ogaadeen
86: Axmed Sh Cali		Hawiye Jajeele
87: Cali Cismaan Cabdullahi		Marreexaan Calidheere
88: Axmed Cabdi Maxammed		Marreexaan Calidheere
89: Bashiir Lambar Duwe		Marreexaan reer Ina-Nuur
90: Cabdiqaadir Shariif Madoobe		Asharaaf
91: Aadan Sh Abshirow		Raxanweyn Laysaan
92: Ismaaciil Xuseen Axmed		Raxanweyn Gasaaragude
93: Maxammed Xasan Moos		(qabiilkiisa lama helin)
94: Muxayaddiin Diiriye Aadan		Ogaadeen Cawlyahan
95: Indhacadde		Marreexaan Wagardhac
96: Caddow Maxammed Laysaamow		Raxanweyn Laysaan
97: Faadumo Mayow Mayow		Raxanweyn Gabaaweyn
98: Shugri Mayow Sh Cali		Raxanweyn Gabaaweyn
99: Cabdiwahaab Mayow Sh Cali		Raxanweyn Gabaaweyn
10: Faadumo Axmed Maxammed		Raxanweyn Gabaaweyn
101: Ismaaciil sheekh Xasan		Raxanweyn Gabaaweyn
102: Mustaf Daa’uud Mayow		Raxanweyn Gabaaweyn
103: Khadiijo Faarax Ogaadeen		Marreexaan Celi
104: Xaddiyo Macallin		Marreexaan Celi
105: Axmed Cadduur		Marreexaan reer Axmed
106: Cawke Xasan Xaaji		Ogaadeen Cawlyahan
107: Daahir Cali Walaalow		Raxanweyn
108: Ismaaciil Aadan Biriq		Raxanweyn
109: Xasan Bacaad Malbaale		Marreexaan Hawraarsame reer Iidow
110: Bishaar Maxammed Qaasin		Raxanweyn
111: Bishaar Xasan Nuur		Marreexaan reer Axmed
112: Shugriya Ciise Weer		Marreexaan reer Axmed
113: Cabdullahi Cismaan Axmed		Marreexaan reer Axmed
114: Maxammed Cismaan Kacaan		Marreexaan reer Xasan
115: Axmed Faarax Geelle		Majeerteen
116: Cali Nuur Kalkaal		Raxanweyn Diisow
117: Hore Kinaa Sharmaake		Marreexaan reer Diini reer Ugaas Sharmaake
118: Xuseen Caddow		Marreexaan Hawraarsame
119: Mahad Maxammed Guuleed		Reer Shabeelle
120: Cabdullahi Cali Salaad		Reer Shabeelle
121: Cabdi Cali Maxammuud		Reer Shabeelle
122: Faadumo Sulub Diiriye		Dir Gaadsan

Ibrahim Aden Shire
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