By Yiorgos Apostolopoulos

At the time of independence in 1960, Somalia was touted in the West as the model of a rural democracy in Africa. Tribalism and extended family loyalties and conflicts were the core of the government, and by the late 1960’s, more than sixty parties campaigned for election to a Parliament of one-hundred-twenty-three seats. Democracy had degenerated in to anarchy. Somali corruption astounded even Afrophiles. The last Prime Minister was playing roulette in Las Vegas at the time of the national uprising led by General Mohamed Siad Barre in October, 1969.

The new government said it would adapt “scientific socialism” to the needs of Somalia. It drew heavily from the traditions of China. “Volunteer” labor planted, harvested, built roads and hospitals. Almost all industry, banks and businesses were nationalized. Cooperative farms were promoted. The government forbade tribalism and stressed loyalty to the central authorities. An entirely new script for the Somali language was introduced. To spread the new language, and the methods and message of the revolution, secondary schools were closed in 1974, and 25.000 students from fourteen to sixteen years of age were sent to the bush to educate their rural brothers and sisters.

...Waxaan kale oo aan isleeyahay uguna bishaaraynayaa dadka Soomaaliyeed in caawa la qaaday qaraar oo Goleyaaashu ay gaareen go'aan ah Af Soomaaligii in la dhigo. Afkii hooyo in la qoro wixii ka dambeeya maantana afkii xaqa ahaa oo dalka lagu maamulayey inuu isaga noqdo.

Kaas oo lagu dhigayo xuruurfta loo yaqaan Laatiin iyadoo loola jeedayna in uu yahay midda keliya oo durbadiiba hirgelin karta haddii la yiraahdo afkii hooyo haba la dhigo amaba dhaqaalaha dalku uusan ka maarmi karin inuu xruuf kala qaato, taaso u baahnaan kari lahayd alaabo badan oo malyuunaad lacag gaarta in lagu gado amabase waqti dheer ay u baahato intii allaabadaas laga sameeyo ay dhici kari lahayd. 

Waxaa kale oo  haddaan ka xuso tacliinta barbarkeeda hoose ilaa barbarkeeda sarae waa isku xirxiran tahay.  Marka haddii aan ku xisaabtamo tacliinta qiimaha ayugu xiran tahay ama ay leedahay, adduunku wuxuu leeyahay macaamilo badan oo ka dhaxaysa ama beecsharuu isugu xiran yahay, ama tacliin buu isugu xiran yahay; qolo keligeed gees u noolaan kartaana ma jirto.

 Adduunku intiisa badanina xaruuftaas ayay ku isticmaashaa, qolo kastana waxay jeceshahay in afkeeda dad badanu ay bartaan oo uu fido. haddii ay dhacdo xuruuf kale in lagu dhigo waxaa imaan kari lahayd inu go'doon noqdo oo ay suuro gasho inuusan fidin, isla markii waxaa haddana  laga maarmaan ah ama qiimo khaas inay leedahay...