http://allafrica.com/stories/200701090301.html
I also distributed this below e-mail comment to a quite few relevant agencies and made sure that they forwarded to the right department if my letter was at the wrong address.
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Dear sir/mom,
I am writing in response to your present and old thematic maps on
Somalia's ethnic groups. It seems that you have kept very old
statistical ratio of the size of each tribe in Somalia. My question
is that does the percentage of Darod, which you placed at a ratio
smaller than both Hawiye and Isaq, include the population figure
inside 'Ogaden' or eastern Ethiopia and NFD? If not, the map shows
clan distributions across borders--an inaccurate representation of
location and number. I think the little errors these map contain
could be skewed to the curve if the fact is given serious
consideration.
Since there is no accurate and updated demographic data available due
to the state collapse, Daarod is by traditionally the largest clan
in Somalia. For instance, Mogadishu which is often said to have over
1 Million residents was diverse before the civil war. Darod dominated
residential blocks/sections. Besides, there are the urban minority
folks who settle in Mogadisho and many other minority clans aka. Rer Hamar, or
people of Mogadisho, lightskinned Somalis who are said to have
originated from Arabia. Puntland claims to have a population size of
2.5 million contrary to UNDP/JNA figure of 1.1 with the exclusion of
Sool and Sanaag. Also, Gedo, Lower Juba and parts of Galgadud contain
large Darod settlements.
If you look at "A Country Study: Somalia" it states Daarod is the
largest clan by number. Figures from the CIA's factbook is not
basically true and their stats are far from even reliability. For
example, The online book, Somalia: a Country to Study, states "The
capital of Mogadishu is located in the country of the Abgaal, a
Hawiye subclan. In numbers the Hawiye in Somalia are roughly
comparable to the Isaaq, occupying a distant second place to the
Daarood clans.
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?f ... CID+so0042)
In the Ogaden region, Ethiopia estimates the population to be around
4 million and 80% is Daarod. In Kenya, the ethnic Somalis in NFD are
mostly Daarod estimated to be around 3 million. So Basically, this
clan is spread out across borders and occupies the longest settlement.
One other important distinction to make is the privilege this clan enjoyed over centuries.
Hawiye and Isaq clans resent the fact that most politicians, presidents, scholars,
nationalist figures during the colony such the "Mad Mullah" and even
as far the Adel Empire, and Ahmed Gran all hail from Darod. Also,
one of the Daarod sultanates named Kenadid held reign over Hobyo up to
the central regions. His rule was even recognized by Italy and
Britain. Italy made treaty with the Sultan of Obbio in 1867--another
historical fact that resents Hawiye.
Please contact me at the above E-mail anytime
Sincerely,
Buubaa a.k.a Riighaye
FM of Somalia
[color=red] hal bacaad lagu lisey[/color]
