Somali Flag Day

Seventy years and two years ago today, on October 12, 1954, Maxamed Cawaale Liibaan proposed the blue flag, which, when independence was achieved in 1960, became the official symbol of the Republic of Somalia. That flag was raised in the city of Hargeysa on June 26, 1960, at which time Cabdullaahi Suldaan Timacadde recited the poem:

What is the true meaning of the flag? Does it represent five Somalis?

Are Somalis five? Visually, our flag resembles the sky, and the star in the middle is similar to the stars.

When combined, it can represent the sky and the stars. The white star in the center of the blue flag is interpreted as representing the five Somalis.

It is certain that this flag belongs to every Somali, but referring to Somalis as five Somalis reflects support for the division created by the colonizers. Anyone who believes that there are five Somalis is spreading the colonizer's ideology.

Reading the flag in that context can lead to questioning whether the colonizer was involved in or had a thought in the creation of the flag, and this has happened many times. Every citizen who lost their life or sacrificed their blood while fighting against an internal or external enemy for the Somali people to live in peace and dignity is a hero who will not be forgotten!

Today, it is especially important to mention the hero Mohamed Abdulle Xalane, who sacrificed himself to protect our flag and refused to let the Somali flag fall into the hands of the invading enemy from Ethiopia. May Allah have mercy on him, Xalane saw the Ethiopian army approaching where the Somali flag was raised.

When faced with a larger army approaching you, the first thought that comes to a human mind is retreat and saving oneself; however, Xalane preferred the safety of the flag over his own life. That is where he was martyred, insisting that the flag remains raised and preventing it from touching the ground.

Sixty-two years

After, the dog that was guarding the flag is now in our country, and that same flag is waving nearby. This is what comes from destruction.

The song of the flag was composed by poet Xuseen Aw Faarax Dubbad. The poet expressed the colors of the flag and the love he has for it, and among its lyrics are: A group has its flag, it is a pride, Ours is, Another sky, Without a habit, Oh beloved.

Your stars are bright, You have honored us, This land is yours alone, Oh sun, become famous. When you are born, my belly is like the weight of the one you have passed, Oh God, do not return it.

The Federal influence of Cawaale Today, which is the day of Cawaale on October 12, did not witness events celebrating the Somali flag, except for those that took place at government centers. Many young people are not aware or do not recognize the day of the flag, while others find it meaningless.

On the other hand, in the days of regional governments, people gather in public places, and their flags are displayed on vehicles and business areas. The reason why today's generation celebrates the regional government flag, while they do not celebrate the Somali flag, is not because they hate Somali identity; rather, they see the regional government flag as one that they own specifically, and if it is not celebrated, the shame falls on their locality.

However, the flag that belongs to the people is seen as one that does not carry the burden alone. And this is where we have neglected responsibility and the common good.

What is the true meaning of the flag? Does it represent five Somalis? Are Somalis five?

Visually, our flag resembles the sky, and the star in the middle is similar to the stars. When these are combined, it can represent the sky and the stars.

The white star in the center of the blue flag symbolizes the five Somalis. It is certain that this flag belongs to every Somali, but referring to the Somali people as five Somalis reflects support for the division created by the colonizers.

Any Somali who believes there are five Somalis is someone promoting the colonizer's ideology. Interpreting the flag in that sense can lead to questioning whether the colonizer was involved in or had a thought in the creation of the flag, and this has happened many times.

Every citizen who has lost their life or sacrificed their blood while fighting against an internal or external enemy, so that the Somali people may live in peace and dignity, is a hero who will not be forgotten! On a day like today, it is especially important to mention the hero Mohamed Abdulle Xalane, who sacrificed his life for the protection of our flag, refusing to let the Somali flag fall into the hands of the invading enemy from Ethiopia.

May Allah have mercy on him, Xalane saw the Ethiopian army approaching the place where the Somali flag was raised. When faced with a larger army approaching you, the first thought that comes to a human mind is retreat and saving oneself; however, Xalane preferred the safety of the flag over his own life.

There he was martyred, insisting that the flag remains raised and preventing it from touching the ground.

Sixty years later, the enemy that was protecting the flag is today in our country, and that very flag is waving nearby. This is what arises from destruction.

The Flag Song was composed by poet Xuseen Aw Faarax Dubbad. The poet expressed the colors of the flag and his love for it in the lyrics, which include: There is a group whose flag is, it is a curse, We are the ones who bring it, Another sky, Without a habit, Oh beloved.

Your stars are bright, You are our protector, This land is only yours, Oh sun, become famous. When you are born, my belly is like the weight of the one you have passed, Oh God, do not return it.

The Federal Influence of Cawaale Today, which is Cawaale's day on October 12, there were no significant events celebrating the Somali flag, except for those that took place at government centers. Many young people are not aware or do not recognize the day of the flag, while others find it meaningless.

On the other hand, in the days of the regional governments, people gather in public places, and their flags are displayed on vehicles and in business areas. The reason today's generation celebrates the regional government flag and does not celebrate the Somali flag is not because they hate Somali identity; rather, they see the regional government flag as one that they own specifically, and if it is not celebrated, the shame falls on their locality.

However, the flag that belongs to the people is seen as one that does not solely bear the burden. This is where we have neglected responsibility and the common good.

The Flag Song was composed by poet Xuseen Aw Faarax Dubbad. The poet expressed the colors of the flag and his love for it in the lyrics, which include: