#6. The Federal Republic of Somalia.

Welcome to the Horn of Africa! Somalia is the Eastern-most country on mainland Africa and is situated on the peninsula known as the Horn of Africa. Its capital is the coastal city of Mogadishu dating back to the 10th century. Somalia is a long, narrow country that wraps around the Horn of Africa. It has the longest coast of any African nation, bordering on both the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The inland areas are predominantly plateaus, with the exception of some rugged mountains in the far north. Currently, the country is led by His Excellency, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

My teenage years were characterized with random news of my country's conflicts with our neighbors. Al-shabab (armed group) had rendered the Kenya-Somalia border and other interior parts of the country near where I schooled unsafe for quite some time. But then, I just realized something simple can give a really general bad/good picture of a place or someone. Let us dive more into the beautiful country's identity.

One of the oldest histories of a country's identity is associated with The National flag of the Federal Republic of Somalia. Diversity of amazing ideas from different sources have constantly built the country until independence. Thanks to time that is always dynamic allowing us to experience different phases of life and not tire in a bid to see a better society.

The flag of Somalia was created in 1954 for the transitional trusteeship period of the nation's history. It was personally designed by the Somali scholar Mohammed Awale Liban, who was from the northern eastern side of Somalia after being selected to come up with a design in preparation for independence.

1.The first flags flown in a large area that was to become Somalia were the flags of the Adal Sultanate between 900 and 1559. They were all either red or white with a crescent moon (shown below).

2. Between the 13th to 17th Century the red and yellow with white crescent flag of the Ajuran Sultanate was flown part of Somalia (shown below).

3. Between 1559 and 1867 the Ottoman Empire ruled a North Western region of Somalia called Zaila. The flag was a plain red field with a yellow crescent moon (shown below).

4. In 1896 the Dervish State was created in Somalia and a new flag was adopted that features a plain green field with red border around the flag, inside of which is a red-bordered green rectangle with a red rectangle in the centre (shown below).

5. In 1903 North Western Somalia became a British Protectorate called British Somaliland. A blue British Ensign was adopted as the flag of the area with a white badge featuring a brown antelope until 1950 (shown below).

6. The badge was changed in 1950 to add a shield inside of which was a boat, crossed swords, a tower. On top of the shield was an antelope head and crown until 1960 (shown below).

7. From 1880 the northeastern part of Somalia was under the rule of Italy. The flag flown in this area was the Italian green-white-red vertical tri-colour. When the area became Italian East Africa in 1936 the flag remained the same (shown below).

8. After World War Two ended Italian East Africa became United Nations Trust Territory and the modern day light blue field with a white five-pointed star at the center was adopted for this interim period. When the country finally became independent in 1960 the flag remained the same (shown below).

This is so far one of the longest and oldest yet simple history of a country's identity. A depiction that change is inevitable and it makes us.

Meaning of the magnificent flag of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

As an ethnic flag,

#The five-pointed white Star of Unity in its center represents the 5 areas where the Somali ethnic group form the majority: Djibouti, Somali-land (former British protectorate), the Somali region in Ethiopia, the North Eastern Province in Kenya, and Somalia (Italian Somali-land).

#The Blue background of the flag was enthused by the flag of the United Nations , which aided the nation evolution to independence. But, in more new years, this color of blue symbolizes the surrounding of Indian Ocean and the blue sky over the nation.

The National Anthem of Somalia (originally in Arabic).

Any nation’s flag, bears its own color; The sky above us, does ours look like;

Defects it has none; love it with candor.

Oh you White Star, at your service we are, Superior you are, in any part of our land

Be famous oh Star, like the sun of the far.

On the day you arose, our hearts you have; Purified with pureness, Oh you our flag;

Lord may not dim you, pray we in this night.

The detached part of, our forces of five; I beseech from God, their return you cause;

This fate that wrote, for us to meet now

The acknowledgement of unity, nature and commitment to doing better makes the country's identity unique. The blue sky in the country must be one of the most beautiful and therapeutic views across the magnificent Indian Ocean. The recognition of a higher being over the country is an indication of a unique spiritual level of the People of Somalia.

Like several other Global South countries, poverty levels and other issues have fueled insecurities in the country with internet warning internationals against living in some parts of the country. However, despite all odds, my heart goes to the people of Somalia with a living hope that there are better and brighter future days of peace, abundance and prosperity.

It may be a rough road for Africa as a continent but even if our vehicles spoil on the way, we will pause and help each other so that we all journey on. Many people in other continents be thinking Africa is one country, a very big mistake. But the one-ness lives in us driving the highway of development together. Somalia's 5 prominent founding ethnic areas show how difficult yet unique progress efforts can be.

On a personal note, I love Somalia people. The few I have interacted with are cool people, smiling, very kind and sometimes talking too much like me:). I am yet to confidently talk about the culture of the people of Somalia although I understand bits of the Somali people of the North and North Eastern Kenya. I long for the day I shall land in Mogadishu and tour through the country.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for following through! See you in the next country!

Ref.: Flagmakers.co.uk and others.

?Girl of the African Soil