Dedicated to Md. Aaden Cadde

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Since madaxweynihii heybada iyo qaayaha lahaa ee Mudane Aaden Cabdille Cismaan uu sariir saaranyahay oo isbitaal ku jiro, this thread is solely dedicated to him.

 

Aabihii wadanka, aabihii ummada Soomaaliyeed, Aaden Cadde, Eebbe caafimaad iyo cilmi dheer wanaagsan ha siiyo -- aamiin, aamiin. [Fadlan u duceeya.]

 

A rare pictorial images I found on another site, but unfortunately was on a slide and without any identification. I separated them as an still images. Enjoy.

 

 

Md. Aaden Cadde with Marxuum C/rashiid Cali Sharmaarke (Eebba ha u naxariistee). [On his immediate left.]

 

 

 

 

His swearing-in inauguration

 

 

At Cumra in Makka. [The circled face behind him is my old man, who I can easily recognize even as the image being small. We had many pictures like this, some we unfortunately have lost, being a casualty of civil war.]

 

 

Easily relaxing at home

 

 

With Marxuum C/rashiid (Eebbe ha u naxariistee, on his right) and Jamaal C/naasir, former president of Masar {Eebbe ha u dambi dhaafee)

 

 

Marxuum C/rashiid (Eebba ha u naxariistee) at his right again. The smiles, the happiness. Waayo waayo, waayadee Soomaalida heybad lahayd. On his left, I think, is Max'ed Cawaale Liibaa (Eebba ha u naxariisto), the creator of Soomaali flag.

[Castro]

When we were kings.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

 

With Jamaal C/naasir

 

 

With the Xabashi Emperor, Xeylasalaase [At the back, in military dress, is Xuseen Kulmiye Afrax (Eebba ha u naxariisto).]

 

 

With Jomo Kenyatta, the former Kenyan president

 

 

With former Ghanaian president and pan-African leader, Kwame Nkrumah

 

 

With Marxuum C/rashiid

 

 

 

Jeneraal Daa'uud (Eebba ha u naxariistee) on his right, Xuseen Kulmiye on the left

 

[Fabregas]

Very nice pictures walaal. Bal isu eega sharafta ka muuqata Soomaalidi hore iyo kuwa maanta nahaysta?May Allag grant him peace and mercy amiin.

[xiinfaniin]

Waayo, waayo! Many thanks MMA!

 

Allaah ha u fududeeyo hana u naxariisto~~

[Jabhad]

May Allah help him recover quickly IA. He was indeed a good example not only to our nation but to the african continent .

 

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

This thread is re-dedicated once again the father of the nation.

 

Eebba mar kale ha u naxariisto Aabaheen, Marxuum Mudane Aaden Cabdille Cismaan.

 

Geeridiis qof walba oo damiir iyo dhiig Soomaaliyeed ayee taabaneysaa.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

His

ceremony of the first day of Luulyo in 1960 of the indepedence day.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

[sNIP]

 

Xushmadda uu Mudane Aadan Cadde ka mudanyahay shacbiga Soomaaliyeed daraaddeed ayay ila qumanaatay inaan waxyar ka iftiimiyo shaqsiyaddiisii oo laga yaabo in aysan in badani ku baraarugsaneyn.

 

Inta aanan gudagalin ubucda qoraalka, waxaan ka sii afeefanayaa in aanan anigu aheyn taariikhyahan dabagalay taariikhda Madaxweynaha, taasoo ay mudnaanteeda leeyihiin aqoonyahannada arrimahaas baaritaannada ku sameeyay. Waxaanse jecleystay inaan si kooban u soo bandhigo qaar ka mid ah dhacdooyinkiisa ka marqaati kacaya tayada mas'uuliyeed ee mudane Aadan Cadde oo la dhihi karo waa mid naadir ku ah mujtamaca Soomaaliyeed. Hubaal, dhacdooyinkaani ma aha kuwii ugu wanaagsanaa amaba xulkii mas’uuliyad wanaaggii Madaxweynaha, laakiin waxaan shaki ku jirin iney yihiin kuwo xiiso badan oo tixgelintooda leh.

 

Mudane Aadan Cabdulle wuxuu ku dhashay magaalada Baladweyne ee gobolka Hiiraan sanadkii 1908dii. Wuxuu ka mid ahaa halyeeyadii Ururkii Dhallinyarada Soomaaliyeed ee SYL iyo aabbeyaashii salka u dhigay qaranka Soomaaliyeed. Mudane Aadan , waxaa loo doortay Madaxweynihii ugu horreeyay ee Soomaaliya markii ay midoobeen labadii qaybood ee waqooyiga iyo koofurta, laguna dhawaaqay Jamhuuriyaddii Soomaaliya ee xorowday 1dii luulyo 1960.

 

Sanadkii 1967, ayuu mudane Aadan Cadde xilkii ku wareejiyay Madaxweyne C/Rashiid Cali Sharma'arke(AHN), ka dib markii doorasho looga guuleystay. Wuxuu Mudane Aadan Cadde sidaas ku noqday Madaxweynihii ugu horreeyay qaaradda Afrika ee si xor ah loo doorto, si xor ahna xukunka uga dega. Arrinkaasi wuxuu sharaf iyo qaddarinba u soo jiidday guud ahaan umadda Soomaaliyeed, gaar ahaanna Mas’uulka indheergaradka ah. Madaxweyne Aadan cadde waxaa kale oo uu ka mid ahaa aasaasayaashii Ururka Midowga Afrika. Waxaa aad loo xusuustaa khudbaddii taariikhiga aheyd ee uu ka jeediyay shirkaas, kuna sheegay : in aysan Soomaaliya marnaba aqbaleynin in dhulka Soomaaligalbeed loo aqoonsado Itoobiya, isagoo si aad ahna uga soo horjeestay in xuduudaha Afrika loo daayo sidii uu gumeysigii u calaamadiyay, taasoo uu arkayay arrin lagu duudsiinayo umadda Soomaaliyeed ee dulman.

 

Dhacdooyinka wanaagga ah ee laga soo tabiyay Madaxweyne Aadan waa kuwo aad u fara badan, waxaanse jecleystay inaan akhristeyaasha u soo gudbiyo labo ka mid ah dhacdooyinkiisii naftiis-hurennimo, oo dhab ahaan laga dheehan karo, kartidii iyo niyadsamaantii uu Madaxweyne Aadan u hayay, uguna adeegayay dalkiisa iyo dadkiisa.

 

Dhacdada koowaad, waxay muujineysa doorkii uu Mudane Aadan Cadde ku lahaa aasaaskii xoogga dalka Soomaaliyeed iyo waliba dhiirrigelintii iyo taageeradii uu mar walba la barbar taagnaa. Dhacdadaan xiisaha leh, waxaan in yar ka soo xiganeynaa qoraal dheer ku saabsanaa asaaskii Ciidanka Cirka Soomaaliyeed oo uu diyaariyay Mudane Axmed Sh. Xasan ( Hareed ) oo ka mid ahaa xubnihii lagu aasaasay ciidankaas. Waxaana qoraalkii Mudane Hareed uu uga hadlayay asaaskii Ciidanka Cirka Soomaaliyeed ka mid ahaa:

 

"

...... Waxaa taas ka sii xasuus iyo muhimad weyn, 24/05/63, waqtigii ciidanku qaaday Madaxweynihii ugu horreeyay ee Soomaaliya mudane Aadan Cabdulle Cismaan iyo wafdi ballaran oo uu hoggaaminayay oo ka qayb galayey furitaanki shirkii lagu aasaasay Ururkii Midowga Afrika 25/05/63dii oo uu mudane Aadan Cadde noqday Madaxweynaha qura ee Afrikada madow oo watay diyaarad khaas ah oo wadatay astaantii dalkiisa oo misna ay duulinayeen ciidankiisu. Taasna waxay dalka iyo Madaxweynahaba u soo hoysay sharaf iyo qaddarin dheeraad ah kolkii ay arkeen wufuuddii soo dhaweyneysay ,dadweynihii iyo suxufiyiinti dunida inay diyaaradda wadeen duuliyeyaal dhuudhuuban oo Soomaali ah. Madaxweynuhu markuu dalka dib ugu soo laabtay wuxuu saraakiishii diyaaradda ku qaadday mid mid ugu soo diray ammaan qoraal ah halka uu ciidanka u soo diray ammaan guud (solenne encamio).....

"

 

Dhab ahaantii, ma fududa in waddan uu calanka xornimadu ka dulbabannayay muddo ka yar saddex sano uu ku tillaabsado guulo tan oo kale ah. Arrimaha sidaan oo kale taariikhiga ahi waxay u baahanyihiin geesinnimo iyo iskukalsooni lagu jiiro oo looga dultillaabsado caqabadaha ku horgudban guulaha lama illoobaanka ah ee la tiigsanayo.

 

Mudane Hareed oo ka warramaya go'aankii naftiishurennimada ahaa ee uu Madaxweyne Aadan Cadde qaatay ka dib markii xoogaa shaki ah la geliyay khibraddii duuliyeyaashii dhallinyarada ahaa ee Soomaaliyeed, sidoo kalena la sheegay in diyaaradda loo diyaariyay wafdiga ruuxeedu ay tahay mid gabowday oo aan lasyku halleyn karin, wuxuu qoray:

 

"....

Waagaas xog lagu kalsoonaan karay ayaan ka ogaannay in rag ka tirsanaa wafdiga Madaxweynahu ay u soo jeediyeen inay nabad gelyadiisu ku jirto inuu Talyaaniga waydiisto diyaarad, intii uu raaci lahaa diyaaradda gaboowday oo ay duulinayaan rag khibraddoodu ku siman tahay saddex sano. Soo jeedintaas madaxweynuhu wuxuu uga jawaabay, “

Oo yaa annaga ka wanaagsan oo ay ku barbaran lahaayeen

.

”."

 

Cajiib!! Madaxweynihii Qaranka ayaa naftiisii u hibeeyey in ay wax ku bartaan dhallinyaro uu u diyaarinayo in mustaqbalka ay difaacaan dalka, dadka iyo diinta. Wuxuu diiddanyahay inuu niyadjebiyo dhallinyaradii u dhaaratay badbaadinta qarankooda, kana doorbido duuliye shisheeye. Diyaarad gabowday oo shaki la geliyay iney masaafo dheer duuli karo ayuu ka doorbidayaa inuu dalbado diyaarad shisheeye oo loogu deeqo amaba uu doollar badan oo ay danyartu u baahneyd ku bixiyo. Maalinba waa maalinteedee, meesha uu maanta xaal marayana Soomaaliyey ishaa macallin ah!! Malaayiin ayaa la sheegayaa iney ku baxday, safarro loo galay magaalooyin Soomaaliyeed oo isku Muuqda. Raqba waa ku raggeed !!

 

Waxaa haddaba in la is weydiiyo mudan, saameyn intee la eg ayuu go'aankaas geesinnimada leh ee Madaxweynuhu ku yeeshay dhallinyaradii uu maalintaas naftiisa ku aaminay iyo guud ahaan Ciidanka Cirka Soomaaliyeed? Waa kan mar kale, Mudane Axmed Sh. Xasan ( Hareed) oo arrinkaas wax ka qoray:

 

"Geesinimadii Madaxweynuhu aad bay noo dhiiri gelisay, waxayna nagu abuurtay farxad, isku kalsoonaan iyo isxilqaamid dheeraad ah, maantana Rabbi wuxuu idmay inuu asagii weli noolyahay, halka saraakiishii maalintaas diyaaradda ku wadday iyo kuwii ra’yiga u soo jeediyayba aan waqtigaan midna ka nooleyn. Diyaaraddiina waxaa hawlgab laga dhigay Juun 1972dii iyadoo weli hawl gal ah, laguna beddelay diyaaradihii AN 24 ee ku caanka baxay “Shabeelleeyda."

 

Rabbi (swt), ayaa qofkuu doono dila, kuu doonana daaya. Dabaabbaad lagu dhuunto iyo ciidan laysku deyro midna geerida loogama gabbado, waxayna dadnimadu ku jirtaa in qofka mas’uuliyaddu ay saarantahay intii uu geeri ka baqi lahaa, uu ka baqo guullihii uumay. Aakhiro waa lama huraan.

 

Dhacdada labaad, ee aan rabo inaan qoraalkaan ku xuso waa mid dhacday biloowgii sanadkii 1991dii, oo ka mid ahaa xilliyadii ay dagaallada sokeeye ee Soomaalidu ugu ba'naayeen. Waxay aheyd xilli boob iyo bililiqo baahday ay jirtay, haba ugu sii darnaato hantidii guud een qarankuye. Waxaa waliba la yaab iyo amakaag sii lahaa in kuwa ugu darnaa ee boobka geysanayay ay ugu horreeyeen dad mas’uuliyiin ku magacownaa iyo ciidamadoodu. Kuwaas oo ku qamaamayay meelihii ay hantida qaranku ku keydsaneyd sida bangiyada. Runtii wuxuu ahaa waqti culus oo ay adkeyd inuu qofna ku fekero badbaadin hanti qaran, xaalna wuxuu taagnaa, i bixiyow i bixi !! .

 

Bal aan qiyaasno, qofka maalintaas inta bangi hor istaaga yiraahda " Waa hanti qaran ee ha la badbaadiyo ". Haddiise uu qofi sidaas ku dhiirrado oo uu naftiisaba quuro, ma dhici kartaa in dadka qamaamaya ee boobka u soo xaydxaydtay ay u dhago nuglaadaan oo ay dhawaaqiisa maqlaan? Haddey jawaabtaadu tahay maya , fadlan ha degdegin !!

 

Febraayo 16, sanadkii 1991dii, labaatan maalmood ka dib burburkii maamulkii kacaanka, waxaa Muqdisho kulan isugu yimid mas'uuliyiin ka socda maamulkii kumeelgaarka ahaa ee xilligaas la dhisay oo uu horkacayay Ra'iisulwasaarihii maamulkaas Mudane Cumar Carte Qaalib iyo guddi ay iska soo xuleen ardaydii Jaamacadda Umadda Soomaaliyeed iyo Machadyada la siman. Ujeeddada kulanku waxay aheyd in laga doodo qorshaha ammaanka caasimadda oo ay nabadgalyadeedu faraha ka sii baxaysay. Waxay ardaydu soo jeediyeen in gebi ahaanba ciidamada beelaha laga saaro caasimadda oo ay dhac,dilal iyo kufsi fara badanba ka geysteen, laguna aruuriyo xerooyin magaalada bannaankeeda ku yaallay. Taas baddalkeedana caasimadda ay si iskaa-wax-u-qabso ah uga howlgalaan kumannaan ardaydii gurmadka qaranka soo martay ah, oo xilligaas tiro badan oo ka mid ahi ay muddo todobaad gudihiis ah isku soo diiwaangeliyeen.

 

Dood dheer ka dib, Mudane Cumar Carte ayaa gabagabdii shirka ka sheegay In uu si aad ah ugu qanacsanyahay abaabulka ay sameeyeen ardaydu, uusanna fileynin iney jiraan dhallinyaro xilligaas ciriiriga ahaa ka fekereysa badbaadin qaran. Isagoo muujinaya taageeradii uu arrinkaas u hayay ayuuna sii raaciyay:

 

"

Haddaan runta idiin sheego maanta hanti qaran Soomaaliyeed waxaa ka badbaadday oo dhaqaale laga hayaa, 90 Milyan oo Shilin Soomaali ah, oo uu madaxweyne Aadan Cadde ku badbaadiyay bangiga Qoryooley

. Dhaqaalahaas isaga ah ayaanan ku taageeri doonnaa qorshaha nabadgelyada caasimadda ee aad soo jeediseen. Waayo Muqdisho oo hagaagtaa waa waddanka oo hagaagay".

 

Nasiibdarro, Qorshahaas nabadgelyo oo ahaa mid wax badan lagu badbaadin karay, waxaa si aan gabbasho laheyn u hor istaagay xooggagii loollamayay ee ururkii USC oo u arkay mashruuc aan waafaqsaneyn danahoodii gaarka ahaa ee dahsoonaa. Hantidii qaran ee uu Madaxweyne Aadan Cadde badbaadiyayna Alle iyo intii ay gacanta u gashay ayaa meeshii u dambeysay og.

 

Sida kor ku xusan, waxaa noo cad in mar kale mudane Aadan isagoo ay da' diisu kor u dhaaftay 80 sano uu u tukubay bangigii Qoryooley una u bareeray halista noo wada muuqata si uu u badbaadiyo hanti qaran. Isxilqaankaas Alle weyne wuu ku garabgalay, wuuna ku xiltiray! Geesi Alle ma xilo !! Isaga iyo intii arrintaan taariikhiga ah kala shaqeysayba Rabbi ha ka abaalmariyo wanaaggii ay dadkooda u faleen.

 

Madaxweyne Aadan, xilliyadii dagaallada sokeeye marna kama qaxin dalkiisa, wuxuuna si kalsooni leh ugu noolaa beertiisa ku taalla Jannaale, gobolka SH/Hoose. Aaminnimadii iyo adeegiisii hufnaa ee umaddiisa ku maamulayna wuxuu ku muteytay qaddarin heer qaran ah iyo waliba mid heer caalami ah. Dagaalladii sokeeye, qabiilooyinkii dagaallamayay ee beertiisa marba dhan iskula dhaafay dhibkoodii Rabbi waa dhinac mariyay. Magaciisa la xushmeeyo iyo maamuuska uu ku dhexleeyahay mujtamaca Soomaaliyeed ayaana u noqday madfac cabbeysan oo ay cid walbaaba ka gabbato.

 

Taariikhda Madaxweyne Aadan ma aha mid hal qoraal wax looga iftiimin karo, waana mid mudan in la qoro oo la keydiyo si ay duruus ugu noqoto jiilka soo koraya ee mustaqbalka. Taariikhda halyeeyadii Soomaaliyeed iyo waxqabadkoodii oo la qoraa waxay qayb ka noqon kartaa soo nooleynta niyadda sii dhimaneysa ee dadka Soomaaliyeed. Jiilasha mustaqbalkuna waxay yeelan doonaan kalsooni iyo ku dayasho wanaagsan oo ay asaaggood wax kula qaybsadaan.

 

Gabagabadii, mid ka mid ah maahmaahyada Soomaaliyeed ee xikmadda badan ayaa leh "Nin xilqaaday eed qaad". Macnuhu waa ninkii xil qaadaa waa eedeysane. Eeddaasi ha ahaato mid jirta ama yeysanba jirine. Marka taas la qiimeeyo waxaa hubaal ah in ay jiraan gefaf iyo eedo laga tirsanayo intii maamulka uu hayay Madaxweyne Aadan Cadde. Waxayse ila tahay in caddaaladdu ay tahay in qof walba la miisaamo oo la is barbardhigo wixii uu sameeyay iyo wixii uu halleeyay, natiijada halkaas ka soo baxdana wax lagu xukmiyo oo wax lagu qiimeeyo.

 

Ugu dambeyntii, Madaxweyne Aadan, wuxuu isagoo waayeel ah da’siisuna ay 100 sano sii cagacageyneyso ( Alle ha u barakeeyee) ku xanuunsanayaa dal shisheeye. Waxaa haddaba ila habboon inaan u duceyno , una rajeyno caafimaad degdeg ah. Intii uu maamulka waddanka hayay iyo wixii ka dambeeyayba, waxaa la sheegaa inuu Mudane Aadan goor walba u duceyn jiray dadkiisa. “ Ilaahayow Soomaalida dad ka dhig !! “ ayaana ka mid ahayd ducooyinkii ay ka soo wariyeen taariikhyahannadu.

 

Waxaan Madaxweynaha Alle weyne uga rajeynayaa caafimaad degdeg ah. Sidoo kalena, waxaan Rabbi ka baryayaa inuu degdeg umadda Soomaaliyeed iyo guud ahaan umadda Islaamka ah ee dulmanba uga dulqaado culeyka uu cadowgoodu ku hayo, kuna hanuuniyo jidkii ay aakhiro iyo adduunba ku badbaadi lahaayeen.

 

Xigasho

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

 

Original caption: Summit meeting of neutrals. Belgrade, Yugoslavia: The chiefs of the neutral nations meeting here, Sept. 5th, pose for this group photo. Shown (left to right) are: Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia; Saeb Salaam of Lebanon; President Adan Abdullah Osman of the Republic of Somali; Lieutenant General Ibrahim Abboud of Sudan; Sheik Sowayel of Saudi Arabia; King Hassan of Morocco; Marshal Josip Tito of Yugoslavia; Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, prime minister of Ceylon [sri Lanka]; President Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia; President Achmad Sukarno of Indonesia; President Oswaldo Dorticos of Cuba; President Kwame Nkrumak of Ghana; President Gamal Abdel Nasser of the United Arab Republic; Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia; Prime Minister Mohammed Daud of Afghanistan; President Modibo Keita of Mali; and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of India. The conference of nonaligned nations.

 

[september 5, 1961, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.]

 

He was a founding member of Non-aligned Movement [NAM] of nations.

[rudy-Diiriye]

RIP!! see u in heaven.

[Chimera]

Thanks for the pictures MMA

 

..A president with no Somali blood on his hands but only the best interest of his people at heart how can you not love this man?

 

May Somali women give birth to many of his kind in the future

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

A Word Of Respect To Late Aaden Cabdille Cismaan

 

I received with greatest shock the news of the passing away of Aden Abdulle Osman, former President and a beloved son of Somalia. He was first ever President of the free Republic of Somalia from 1960 to 1967. A man of highest sterling qualities, caliber and character. He set an example to the Somali people as well as to other countries in the continent of Africa, the way to democracy. While under his leadership Somalia showed other countries how a democratic country should function. While Somalia led the way there was many countries which were languishing under dictatorship and totalitarian regimes.

 

Aden Abdulle Osman, unlike most of his contemporaries in Africa, knew that power belonged to the people and not to an individual. In 1967, When he lost the election he gracefully relinquished power.

 

I had the great honour of knowing Aden Abdulle Osman, from the days when was the President of the Constituent Assembly til he was elected as the First President of the Somali Republic in July 1960. I happened to be part of his staff until the midnight of July 1, 1960.

I had the pleasure of seeing him hoist the national flag at the top of the National Assembly building. I was there on the roof of the Parliament, together with the rest of the staff of the various departments of the Parliament

.

 

I was among the lucky masses that had the chance to be present at that night,

the fist moment of our independence. The cry of Soomaali Hannoolato, Soomaali ha midowdo, midnimada ha waarto, filled the square outside the Parliament House. And we, looking at the flag moving up higher and higher. Tears welled in our eyes with joy

.

 

Somalia has lost a great statesman. Not only the family members or close relatives will miss him, but all of us, especially those of us who knew him personally and working under his dynamic and wise leadership. We will all remember him as the most dedicated citizen and the father figure of the Somalis. The Almighty will reward him for his great services to the Somalis. I wish to convey my deepest sorrow and heartfelt condolences to my brothers Eng. Cabdulqaadir and Dr. Osman Aden Abdulle and through them to the rest of the family and relatives.

 

May his soul rest in peace.

 

Innaa Lllaahi wa inna Ilahay Rajicuun.

 

- Ambassador

Max'ed Cismaan Cumar

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

We all heard the shocking news and the death of the former and the first president of Somalia. Even though I was somehow aware of his old age and ill-health, it really caught me by surprise. We are all mortal and death is unavoidable. Like a sand spilling out of an hourglass, our life will end the day our lord calls us to come home. The death of the former president may have relieved him of the debilitating effects of an old age and he might be in a better place today, however, I have a mixed feeling of what to make of the sad the news from Nairobi. Should we mourn his death or rejoice the good memory of a great leader? Should we celebrate his life and leadership or should we grieve the loss of an eminent statesman? Should we commemorate a life well-lived or bemoan its sudden and unexpected departure? Should we thank Allah for the providence of giving us this great political icon that guided us through a difficult period of our political history, or should we lament the unexpected passing of a beloved man who through his remarkable leadership became near and dear to all of us? How we feel or deem his death is a true testament of how he lived his life.

 

One of the amazing characteristics of President Aden Abdulle as relayed to us by those who knew him well is his aura of grace and his unpretentious personality. While some political leaders would relish their time in the lime light, Aden led a new nation and never sought fame, fortune, or a notoriety of any kind. Although there has always been a certain virtue in vagueness when it comes to presidential piety, Aden’s extraordinary leadership would always be remembered not because we sang the never-fading songs of praise (guulwadow) but out of an admiration of a simple man who led us with absolute resolve; a man who assumed leadership without fanfare, and relinquished it with dignity; a man of reason who aimed high and reached the pinnacle of his political career, not through the barrel of the gun but through the fairness of the paper ballot.

 

I am sure a tiny minority of my countrymen would not share my feeling for President Aden, but I have yet to encounter anyone with any ill-feeling toward him except of course few misguided souls whose their none-too-veiled attack of his presidency is born out of barely hidden bias but not based on an objective evaluation of his presidential tenure. Aden understood the ebb and the flow of power, but never abused it or used it improperly. His humble beginning from Belet-Wein and the lack of the superfluities of a formal education never handicapped him but allowed him to avoid the pitfalls of the presidential powers.

From what I can garner from his contemporaries, Aden was a man of conviction who was tough as nails (remember his Iisho remarks) yet courtly in his courtesy. His unbending principles defined his presidency and his courage and inner grace shaped his character and individuality. Even though the rudeness of some of his political opponents turned the political dialogue into a veritable concerto of below-the-belt attacks, Aden was always gracious, cordial and polite. He never transgressed in exercising his democratic and presidential prerogatives and was never tempted to abuse his custodial duty. President Aden Abdulle was such a rarity and the real face that goes with the picture of a good leader. He was a quintessential, and very simply, a Somali hero and a great example to follow. I sometimes wonder of whether today’s Somalia was ever deserving of his leadership.

 

There is never a good way to die, but Aden Adde taught us a grand way to live. May Allah bless his soul?

 

C/weli M. Cali

Assistant Professor of Economics

College of Business Administration

Niagara University, NY

[Castro]

^^^^ What a time and what a man! And some around here have the audacity to compare Adan Abdalle Osman (may Allah forgive his sins) to the dhabodhilif and eternal coward Yey.