Warsangeli Daraawiish
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[edit] The Genesis of Somali Dervish Movement
The Dervish ideal was a nationalistic cause that sought to integrate Somalis and unite Somali territories into a one centralized administration. Although it had foibles and major victories, its credit and “worth causes” should not be given away without an understanding. The Dervishes were practically indivisible in its early campaigns to liberate our land from both the Anglo-Ethiopian and the Anglo-Italian conspiracies by which our lands were surreptitiously divided and transferred. In my pursuit to ascertain the relationship between Warsangeli and the Dervish ideal, I encountered several books by Faarax MJ Cawl , including Garbaduubkii gumeysiga or the "Shackles of Colonialism" and "Ignorance is the enemy Of love". Andrzejewski, in his review of the latter book, writes, "The plot unfolds against the background of Somali national history in the first quarter of this century, when members of a Muslim Brotherhood, who called themselves “Dervishes”, were fighting against the foreign powers which had partitioned the Somali territories, and against those of their compatriots who had accepted colonial rule. The struggle was led by Maxamed Cabdule Xasan (1898-1921), who was a Muslim revivalist reformed as well as a nationalist leader"
[edit] Connections Between the Dervish movement and Warsangeli sultanates
As mostly presented by contemporary historians, the Warsangeli initially supported the Dervishes from 1899--1905. Later, they splintered into several factions, only one third of which supported Sultanate of Mohamoud Ali Shire, who took over the sultanate from his ailing father, and powerful Garad , Ali Shirreh. He was a Dervish himself but later turned against Sayid Mohammed because "the two could not see eye to eye on many political, religious and social issues, and the Sultan fiercely defended the independence of his Sultanate against the incursions of the Dervish Movement." According to Files contained by the Sultan and Ray Beachey in his book "The Warrior Mullah". Beachey also writes that the three major fronts of the Dervishes were the(a) forces that concentrated with Sayid, Dhulbahente (b) Warsangeli, and (c)Ogaaden--mainly Bahgeri---All from 1899-1905---the Dervishes had successive victories in these periods.
[edit] Sultan Mohamoud Ali Shirreh
The Sultan was indeed an amazing authority figure and a lot of people believed him to be some type of a Saint. He survived many battles including the battle in which the Dervishes seized control of Las Qorey. He was said to have marched through the Dervish legion while wearing a white turban--in disguise of them, according to oral testimonies. I further tried to prove or find some type of connection, or dovetailing evidence. I researched and found that the English used terms to describe him--in agreement with the orally said things about the Sultan. Terms like Man of unusual influence" "A man of mercurial image" "A man of unusual strength" (Go to Pastoral Democracy by I.M Lewis).
Warsangeli were divided into three groups: The army of the Sultanate in Sanaag, Dervishes with strong bases in Badhan and Buraan, and the army of Dhahar in Bari region. Warsangeli sultanate had had no authority over all the clans of Warsangeli. The man whom the English colony conspired to deport to Mombasa was Dhahar but he escaped and came back as a hero.(1)
Therefore, The largest three army units of the Dervishes were divided into three groups.
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- 1-Maarraweyn-- the largest unit assigned to Jidali and Xiis all the way to Burco. They were given those areas. Maarre is an etymology that stands for "those equipped with rifles"(Dhulbahante, mostly Mohamoud Gard,.)
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- 2-Indhabaddan--The second largest unit. This etymology stands for those with many eyes or "vigilant ones. They were assigned to Badhan, Laasqorey, Ceelaayo, Qaw and Boosaaso. They were 95% Warsangeli.
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- 3-Garbo is the third largest unit. Mostly Bahgeri, Farah Garad, HabarJeclo and other clans. The etymology suggests "shoulders" or the backs of pack animals. They carried heavy equipment and large amount of booty. They were assigned to Ethiopian border and Berbera.
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- The Indhabaddan unit succeeded once in capturing those towns above but they were defeated by the Sultan of Warsangeli and Boqor Cisman army with the help of Italy and Britain . Without the colonial support, they wouldn't have been defeated. The interest of those sultanates was all about securing their dominion from an outside and direct rule, so they were content with the Indirect Rule of the colony of which Sayid opposed it very badly. (Cawl, 1973, Ignorance is the Enemy of Love)
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[edit] References
(1) Ray Beachey's book. Ps. Beachey notes that a Warsangeli man escaped deportation to Mombasa who became a hero after he returned from escape. I figured it was Dhahar since Sayid himself praised him in one of his poems. "Arboow Dhahar sidii aarkii oo kale waa laga ufoodaaye Askartiis waa laga yaqaan tan iyo Iimeeye"
