Somaliland: Our Nation’s Hidden Treasure

By Axmed Ibrahim Kadleye

Few months ago, 6 prominent Somaliland elders and intellectuals included Hadrawi and Gariye formed a committee (known guddigii dhexdhexaadinta) to solve the long-standing crisis between the Government the parliament the two opposition parties and the house of Elders. This committee had immediately solved most of those issues except one.

But how can the Somalilanders always solve their differences so easily, while the others cannot?

How as nation can we succeed if there have been so many that have failed?

One of The greatest treasure our people had for thousands of years and still rely on is the leadership of our elders or (Duqaytideena) and strong culture, what I mean by strong culture is we always value and accept what our elders tell us. But how can we trust and believe them so much, the reason is we all know that their interest is the interest of their people. So to understand a bit let us go back hundreds probably thousands of years where our nation’s history began.

Queen Hatshepsut the female pharaoh of Egypt left Thebes the old capital of Egypt 3502 years ago to organize expedition to Punt, Somaliland at present day, although Puntland use that name today without asking us any permission to use it. When the Queen Hatshepsut reached there, she was so impressed the way that the Chief tribes or elders had welcomed her to this land and offered her present such as Apes monkey’s skins and good fragrant woods. Three and half millennium later, the Somaliland elders signed the first ever peace treaty with Britain at Berbera on 6th February 1827, 50 years before the creation of Somaliland British protectorate in 1884 by Somaliland elders, and this what they had agreed.

Articles of friendship and commerce, made between J.J.Gordon Bremer Esq., C.B. captain of his Britannic majesty’s ship Tamar, representing the English nation in northern Africa and the sheikhs of the tribe of Haber-awal.

Article 1st: It is agreed that from henceforth there shall be peace and friendship between his majesty the king of England, and the sheikhs of the tribe Habar-awal their man, and all other inhabitants of the coast of Africa over which they have authority and influence.

Article 2nd: It is agreed that all ships bearing the English flag which may come to the port of Berbera, or any other port under the Authority of the Sheikhs of the Haber-awal tribe for the purpose of trade shall not be molested, or injured, but shall receive every protection, and support from the said Sheikhs, that they shall be at liberty to enter into any trade, they may think fit to choose, and that they shall be at liberty to depart from the said port at their pleasure without impediment injury or molestation.

It is agreed that in like manner, any Vessels or persons belonging of the said Sheikhs of the Habar-awal tribe, which shall come into any port, belonging to his majesty the king of England shall receive protection and support, and be treated in all respects the same as other Vessels, or persons trading to those ports.

Article 3rd: It is agreed that an equivalent for the value of the British Brig- Marianne and her cargo, which was plundered in the port Berbera, there shall be paid by said Sheikhs of Habar-awal tribe, to said Captain J.J.Gordon Bremer Esq., or to some person duly authorized by him to receive the sum of fifteen thousand Spanish dollars and produce to the same amount in three equal payments, that is to say five thousand dollars this year 1827, and of the Hijera 1242, and the same sum, in each the two following years.

Article 4th. Two Lascars belonging to the British Brig Marianne, having been killed when the said Vessel was plundered and destroyed, the Sheikhs of the Habar-awal tribe do hereby agree to pay the sum of dollars for the support of the families of the murdered men according to the Islamic Law in such cases.

This is one of the oldest written record we have ever found signed by the Somalilanders, also full description the way people used live in this region 3502 years ago can be found Queen Hatshepsut funerary temple at Der El-bahri in Egypt.

Axmed Ibrahim Kadleye, London, United kingdom

Kadleye024@hotmail.com

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