JIGJIGA ( Halbeeg News) – Newly appointed President of Ethiopia’s Somali region, Mustafa Omer has hit back a pro-TPLF commentator, Daniel Berhane over the idea of the greater Somalia.
Through social media platform, Mr. Berhane cast doubt on Somali regional plan to restore its original flag.
Mr. Berhane who claims to be the founder of Horn Affair, Pro-TPLF (Tigray People’s Liberation Front) online media mocked the decision of the state saying he thought it was a rumour.
“I thought it was just rumour. So the Ethiopian Somali region is to return to the ‘Greater Somalia’ flag? That flag and the national anthem of Somalia was used in the Ethiopian Somali region from 1991-2007. It was abandoned afterwards,” Mr. Berhane said, “Now the Somalia and symbols are to be returned to use. Hmm.”
President Omer shamed the commentator over the controversial Facebook post and told off the TPLF supporter saying the days of forcing Somalis to leave the cultural heritage and identity have come to an end.
“The days of intimidating and blackmailing Somalis to force them to abandon their cultural heritage and identity by deploying terms like “Greater Somalia and “Somali irredentism are over,” he responded.
The leader further pointed out that the colonialism has always found ways to inventing language and terminology to turn its victims into aggressors.
“They can no longer be used to force us to run away from Somali roots,” Mr. Omer affirmed, ” Our historical, cultural social economical and political ties to the Somali race across the Horn of Africa region is a fait accompli. No one can change it or wish it away!.”
President Omer emphasised that the region will keep on its plans saying ” they will embrace symbols of Somalinimo.
“We will, therefore, embrace symbols of Somalinimo, no matter what angry oppressors say. The bones of our best and bravest men and women are scattered from Aysha’a to Dollow,” he boasted, “We will honour their sacrifices by ensuring we remain who they want us to remain. There is no contradiction between our Somali nationality and Ethiopian CITIZENSHIP.”
Somalis across the region who were following the conversation dispelled the remarks of Mr. Berhane.
Safia Aidid, a Twitter user said “Indeed, there is no contradiction between our Somaliness and Ethiopian citizenship. Guul iyo Gobanimo!
https://twitter.com/SafiaA/status/1033253400249556993
Eng Mohamed, another social media user says “He (Mr. Omer) the president of Somali of the regional state not the Somali regional state of Ethiopia. No one describes the Tigreans the Tigray regional state of Ethiopia or other states.”
he is the president of somali regional state not somali regional state of ethiopia no one describes the Tigrians the Tigray regional state of ethiopia or other states.
— Mohamed M.Ukun (@mohamed_ukun) August 25, 2018
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