The Somali Democratic ( SDU ) initially known as the Greater Somalia League ( GSL ), was a Somali political party that advocated for the establishment of a Greater Somalia .
25-572: Founded in 1958 by Haji Muhammad Hussein, the former President of the Somali Youth League , the GSL was nicknamed 'Calan Cas' or Red Flag Party for it’s Socialist and Nasserite leanings. The SDU was among the 3 largest Somali political parties in 60s along with the Somali National Congress (SNC) and the Somali Youth League (SYL). The GSL was founded by Haji Muhammad Hussein who was among
50-632: A division of the larger Gaalje'el clans. After memorizing the Quran during his youth, Barsane sought to further his religious education. He traveled to Mecca to perform the Hajj . Barsane stayed there for three years, meeting along the way Sheikh Mohammed Salih, the leader of the Salihiyah. Barsane thereafter joined Salih's movement. During Meneliks invasions Barsane fought and defeated several thousand Abyssinian forces at Balad and Daafeet ( Wanlaweyn district) in
75-669: Is annually commemorated in Somalia. Official celebrations are organized throughout the country on this Somali Youth Day to honour the SYL's members and their key role in the nation's path to independence. In 2014, government representatives, youth associations, women's groups, singers and local residents celebrated the Somali Youth League's 71st anniversary. Sheikh Hassan Barsane Sheikh Hassan Barsame ( Somali : Sheekh Xasan Barsane ; Arabic : الشيخ حسن البرصمي ; 1853 – 28 January 1927)
100-566: The HDMS , SNL, and USP united to form the SDU. Yusuf Osman Samatar was elected as Secretary General of the party. CIA intelligence alleged that the newly formed SDU received monetary support from both China and the Soviet Union and that both Haji Muhammad and Yusuf Samatar made numerous visits to both countries. After the 1964 Somali parliamentary election , the SDU gained and over 95,000 votes 15 seats in
125-630: The Isaaq clan, and the United Somali Party (USP), which had the support of the Dir ( Gadabuursi ) and Darod ( Dulbahante and Warsangali ) clans. In 1945, the Potsdam conference was held, where it was decided not to return Italian Somaliland to Italy. The Somali Youth League had proposed a UN Trusteeship to lead Somalia to independence, under the condition that it was not under Italian administration and that
150-632: The Somali Youth Club ( SYC ), was the first political party in Somalia . It played a key role in the nation's road to independence during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. During the Second World War , Britain occupied Italian Somaliland and militarily administered the territory from 1941 to 1950. Under British rule in Somalia The first modern Somali political party, the Somali Youth Club (SYC),
175-533: The United Nations granted Italy trusteeship of the former Italian Somaliland . The Somali Youth League was firmly against Italian return to Somalia in any form, and campaigned against the return of Italian rule with the slogan, "No matter what the color, a wolf is always a wolf." Before the Italians returned to Somalia, the SYL held a major summit in order to formulate a common policy and unified attitude toward
200-497: The 123 parliamentary seats. The remaining seats were divided among 11 parties. Five years from then, in general elections held in March 1969, the ruling SYL led by Mohammed Ibrahim Egal returned to power. However, in the same year, then President of Somalia Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke was assassinated. In 1969 military coup ensued, with Siad Barre now assuming leadership. Barre's Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) subsequently renamed
225-502: The 13 original founders of the SYL. Haji Mohamed was an ardent Nasserite and a supporter of the non-aligned movement , as such, he was considered by Italy and the USA to be anti-Western and pro-Communist. With support from the U.S. and Italy, he was expelled from the SYL in May 1958. In response he formed the GSL taking with him a large number of supporters. The GSL criticized the SYL for their ties with
250-452: The Italian authorities and the Somali Youth League. Numerous SYL officials who had gained positions of prominence during the era of British Military Administration were either demoted, removed from their positions or imprisoned by Italians officials. These attempts to marginalize the league would lead to demonstrations across the country which were strongly repressed by the government, who had at
275-452: The Italian trusteeship administration, and for permitting "economic exploitation" by certain Italian companies. The GSL was markedly pro-Egyptian and campaigned for the adoption of an Arabic script for the Somali language. The party boycotted the 1958 municipal election, charging harassment from the SYL. It also boycotted the later 1959 elections. In 1962 the GSL along with dissident elements of
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#1732852606957300-679: The National Assembly. The party formed an opposition coalition with the Somali National Congress (SNC) against the ruling SYL. During its existence, the party enjoyed good relations with the Republican Union in French Somaliland . By the time of the 1969 Somali parliamentary election the SDU had rapidly declined and received only 3 seats in the National Assembly. It was subsequently banned after 1969 Somali coup d'état along with all other political parties but many former members of
325-692: The SDU, particularly those who studied in the Soviet Union, joined the military regime. However the former Secretary General of the Party, Yusuf Osman Samatar, spent 20 years as a political prisoner until 1989. At the time, Amnesty International noted that Samatar was "one of the longest held prisoners of conscience" known to the organization. Somali Youth League The Somali Youth League ( SYL , Somali : Ururka Dhalinyarada Soomaaliyeed 𐒚𐒇𐒚𐒇𐒏𐒖 𐒊𐒖𐒐𐒘𐒒𐒕𐒖𐒇𐒖𐒆𐒖 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒜𐒆 , Arabic : رابطة الشباب الصومالي, Italian : Lega dei Giovani Somali or Lega Somala della Gioventù ), initially known as
350-702: The Somali Youth League (SYL) and began to open offices not only in Italian and British Somaliland , but also in the Ogaden and in the Northern Frontier District (NFD). The SYL's stated objectives were to unify all Somali territories, including the NFD and the Ogaden; to create opportunities for universal modern education; to develop the Somali language by a standard national orthography; to safeguard Somali interests; and to oppose
375-503: The Trusteeship government. It was initially decided to launch an armed resistance, but after serious deliberation the league came to the conclusion that a more temperate course would be better for Somali citizens. Following the summits conclusion the SYL delivered a paper to the chief Italian administrator explaining its position. The League informed the administration that it would continue to agitate for independence and expressed hope that
400-541: The Trusteeship managed all Somali territories. In a memo to the UN the SYL stated: "We do not pretend we can stand on our own feet for the moment, but ask the United Nations Trusteeship council to decide questions relating to the formation, boundaries, and administration of a Somali Trust Territory known as Somalia, this territory to consist of all areas present predominantly populated by Somalis ." In November 1949
425-527: The country the Somali Democratic Republic , arrested members of the former government, banned political parties, dissolved the parliament and the Supreme Court, and suspended the constitution. The following is a list of the SYL's 13 original The following is a list of other notable public officials that emerged from the SYL's ranks: The Somali Youth League's establishment on May 15, 1943
450-542: The early 1900's. After World War I around 16,000 rifles were in the hands of the Somali population, with many in the hand of Sheikh Barsane. The Governor of Italian Somaliland, Cesare Maria De Vecchi ordered Somalis to surrender their weapons during the 1920s. Barsane rejected De Vecchis orders and sent a letter to him in which he affirmed his abidance to Islamic Sharia and total rejection of Italian law. The Sheikh and his men also fought various battles against Italian troops, including: The first expeditions against
475-458: The first President of the Somali Republic, and Abdirashid Ali Shermarke as Prime Minister , later to become President (from 1967–1969). On July 20, 1961 and through a popular referendum , the Somali people ratified a new constitution , which was first drafted in 1960. In the first national elections after independence, held on 30 March 1964, the SYL won an absolute majority of 69 of
500-464: The new government would not resist SYL efforts. It was made clear that the organization was willing to cooperate with the Trusteeship authorities if they reciprocated. The League demanded that Arabic be made the official language of the Trusteeship instead of Italian and further requested that Italian government not bring back officials from the fascist era. The first half of AFIS's decade long rule would be marked by animosity and conflict between
525-542: The restoration of Italian rule. SYL policy banned clannishness so that the thirteen founding members, although representing four of Somalia's five major clans, refused to disclose their clan affiliations. Although the SYL enjoyed considerable popular support from northerners, the principal parties in British Somaliland were the Somali National League (SNL) and National United Front (NUF), mainly associated with
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#1732852606957550-550: The time come to decision not cooperate or concede to the SYL's plans. British Somaliland remained a protectorate of Britain until June 26, 1960, when it became independent. The former Italian Somaliland followed suit five days later. On July 1, 1960, the two territories united to form the Somali Republic , albeit within boundaries drawn up by Italy and Britain. A government was formed by Abdullahi Issa Mohamud and Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal with Aden Abdullah Osman Daar as
575-555: The turn of the century of various religious figures such as Uways al-Barawi , Sheikh Hassan Barsane and Mohammed Abdullah Hassan . To empower the new party, the better educated police and civil servants were permitted to join it. By 1948, following an official visit to the territory by the Four Power Commission, the SYC was a well-structured political unit, Abdullahi Issa was elected as its secretary general and renamed itself as
600-615: Was a Somali cleric and religious scholar. He was best known for having fought against Meneliks invasions during the early 1900's and having led the last major revolt against Italian colonial forces in the Banaadir region during the 1920's. Barsame was born 1853 in Ubaadi, a village 68 km west of Jowhar in the Middle Shebelle region of southern Somalia . He hailed from the Barsame tribe,
625-530: Was subsequently established in Harar in 1943. At its foundation in 1943, the party had thirteen founding members. Later opened office in mogaishu. SYL supported Greater Somalia with Harar being the capital and a combined Harari-Somali representatives were commissioned to reveal this proposal to the U.N office in Mogadishu. Somali Youth League members were significantly influenced by the earlier religious rebellion at
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