Secularism's Last Somali Warrior
GALKAYO, SOMALIA. Nearly 70 kilometers away from the capital city of the Mudug region lies the small dusty town of Bandiradley. Over the past few weeks, this sleepy backwater town has been transformed into the frontline between the Islamists and Secularists forces in central Somalia. Nearly 10 kilometers apart, the two opposing forces have been facing off in the greater, ongoing conflict between the Islamist Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) and the Secularist Transitional Federal Government (TFG).
We are received by the head of the Secularist force, Colonel Abdi Hasan Awale, a short, bald man dressed in desert fatigues. A veteran of the civil wars plaguing this poor, desert nation of 9 million, Colonel Awale served in the Somali National Army before joining the armed wing of the United Somali Congress, the rebel group that overthrew the government of Somali strongman, Mohammed Siyad Barre in 1991. He was also the Minister of Defense for the notorious Somali warlord, General Mohamed Aidid, whose rag-tag army humbled the world's only superpower in a battle mesmerized by Hollywood, "Black Hawk Down."
After exchanging pleasantries, we sit down under the shade of an acacia tree for the interview over a traditional Somali lunch of goat and rice. Colonel Awale gave us a background of the latest conflict. The Colonel explained why this dusty village could determine the fate of secularism in Somalia.
"We are at the fault line between the Al Qaeda terrorist courts and the peaceful regions of Somalia. GalMudug, the region here, is sandwiched between the South and North of Somalia. If the terrorists capture this area, it will serve as the launch pin for the invasions of the regions of Puntland and Somaliland, " said Colonel Awale.
Asked about the allegations made by the UIC that Colonel Awale is a defeated former Mogadishu warlord and is simply stirring up trouble here, the colonel angrily responded:
"How am I a warlord ? I was not a Minister nor party to the peace talks in Nairobi. I have never been a factional leader and was simply the Chief of Police working for the Ministry of Security when I was attacked by the terrorists. I have simply returned to my birth place here and am defending it from the terrorists."
Waving goodbye to our host, one could not help but wonder when peace would return to this war torn nation that has seen more than its fair share of conflict.
Story filed by:
James Lebron, KFNX NEWS
Abdiwahab Ahmed Ali, Freelance Journalist
