Cabdullaahi Cabdulle Dhoore, a Somali veteran (1977-78 war) was captured by the Ethiopians in 1978 after his platoon was pinned down. Shot nine-times and almost bleeding out, he was transferred to the notorious Harar prison – a prison infamously known as the “prison of no return”. Sharing prison cells with hundreds of Somali POWS, he describes the ordeal that he underwent.
Tortured daily, he recounted in horror of the events that he had to endure to stay alive. At times contemplating escape or death, he smilingly spoke of the patriotic attitude, the collective identity, the Soomaalinimo that his troops; his compatriots; his brothers in arms displayed that kept him motivated. Displaying immovable teamwork, they used to coordinate hunger-strike, sneaking out letters, cry out at the inhumane treatment of their captors (e.g. Red Cross provided them with basic necessities, the minute they left, it was automatically taken away).
At times, succumbing to his tears, he narrated the number of Somalis – whom he shared a cell with – that perished at the hands of the Ethiopians. “Two died on my own lap”, he mournfully recounts (tearfully breaking down):
“One -- almost breathing his last breath -- kept repeating the famous patriotic chorus:
Haddii aanan soo noqon
Calankeyga nuurow
Allahayaw ku nabad geli
If I don't return oh my flag
My luminous flag
May Allaah safeguard you
The other one’s dying words were: Ummadda Soomaaliyeed, salaan iga gaarsi (To the Somali community, convey my greetings).”
He was imprisoned for a full 10 years, only to be released in 1988 on the onset of the Somali civil war. Though the released prisoners received a hero welcome, they unfortunately did not get their rightfully deserved rights that they were promised. Instead he had to fight for it only to saw the Somali nation that he fervently fought for – and be imprisoned for -- disintegrate before his eyes in 1991.
Cabdullaahi and countless Somali veterans have been forgotten. Whilst other nations force-feed us who-died-who in the World Wars; we ignorantly neglect our forgotten heroes and do not give them the dues that they rightfully deserve. Whilst we are engaged in petty clanism that has ruptured our homogenous society, we fail to honour those that symbolise our unity and the history that binds us.
May Allaah have mercy on our forgotten heroes.
His interview will be part of the upcoming Somali documentary, Kacaan: The Untold Stories.
http://www.kacaandoc.com
