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The Somali untouchables

By Bashir Goth - posted Thursday, 3 May 2007


They have no voice among us and no political representation. And if anyone of them dares to protest, we easily silence them by invoking the M-word. This makes every Somali around them flee and avoid them like a plague. Even in the national charter of the current Somali Transitional Federal Government they are nameless although they have taken a little better status by being referred to as the "others" among small but respected Somali clans. This is the closest they have ever come to share a status albeit an insignificant one with other clans.

At one time when the previous military dictatorship banned the registration of tribal identities and people started referring to each other in coded language as ex-clans, the Midgaans were given the not-so flattering name of Somali Six. This was a reference to the five parts that the colonial powers have divided Somalia into and for which the five cornered star in the middle of the blue Somali flag stands as a symbol. The name Somali Six, therefore, despite its negative connotation of discarding the Midgaans outside the Somali race, carries with it the inadvertent admission of considering them as Somali, albeit outcasts.

Having no identity, no geographical habitat and no land in their name, the Midgaans have suffered the most during the civil wars in the country. While other clans can lean on each other at times of crisis through blood lineages, the Midgaans are left to fend for themselves. No one cries for their dead, treats their wounded, feeds their hungry, clothes their naked, shelters their homeless and no one demands justice for their victims.

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It is, therefore, disdainful to see that none of the dominant clans, erroneously mentioned in the MRG report, have tried to rectify the situation by pointing to the organisation’s grave mistake. In any other situation members of these clans will not hesitate to flash their majority card but this time they seem to willing to accept the minority card as long as they are able to gain from it.

Why should they care if they deprive the Midgaans of their only remaining right of being a minority? After all they have no right to claim any right whatsoever.

And for the record, no Somali clan including my own, the Gadabursi, can claim to having a clear conscience on this. In fact the man I mentioned earlier who vomited after knowing that he shared food with Midgaan family was from my own clan.

Besides there is this famous judgment passed by an elder in my area on a homicide case in which a Tumaal (a Sab and a blacksmith) man was killed by a prominent member of the Isaaq clan.

The Isaaq elders were bewildered as to how to compensate the victim family. As Muslims, Somalis follow the Shariah law in settling murder cases, and Shariah demands a soul for a soul unless the family of the victim pardons the perpetrator and demands diya or blood money, which equals to 100 camels for a male. But in this case killing a man from an aristocratic clan for a Tumaal was out of the question, while paying full blood money of 100 camels to a lesser Tumaal was considered an insult to the dignity of the aristocratic clan.

Therefore, they sought outside advice and from a man of the Gadabursi clan known for his wisdom and sound judgment. When he heard the case, the man of wisdom of my clan passed his judgment. "Give a blacksmith’s tool set as compensation to the victim’s family," he said. Both the Isaaq and Gadabursi elders admired his ingenuity.

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The Tumaal family got a blacksmith’s tool set instead of 100 camels and no one ever sought their opinion of the judgment.

This reminds me of a Midgaan teacher I had in primary school who taught us patriotic songs and in retrospect I now wonder why he even bothered.

I am not sure whether issuing an apology will go far enough but I admit that I bear deep remorse for the action of my clansmen and for the injustice done to the Tumaal family. I also believe that all Somalis should atone for their dehumanising treatment of the Midgaans and recognise them as full citizens.

As for the MRG, I can only hope that they rectify their mistake and demand justice for this oppressed clan.

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First published in Khaleej Times Online on April 24, 2007.



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About the Author

Bashir Goth is a Somali poet, journalist, professional translator, freelance writer and the first Somali blogger. Bashir is the author of numerous cultural, religious and political articles and advocate of community-development projects, particularly in the fields of education and culture. He is also a social activist and staunch supporter of women’s rights. He is currently working as an editor in a reputable corporation in the UAE. You can find his blog here.

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