IMMEDIATE RELEASE:- An imminent departure of the Ugas delegation

Ottawa,Canada - June 18, 2011

An orderly mission is underway among vibrant Gadabursi community in Diaspora. The much-anticipated delegation of Ethiopian Somali origin from North America and Europe is heading back home next month. The large delegation composed of elders, intellectuals and entrepreneurs will be lead by the Honorable Ugas Abdirashid Ugas Roble.  Though the reason behind the move is an official routine and multi-pronged, its primary objectives include

(1) A fact-finding mission exercise of economic, developmental and security issues of the community in the region and ways to improve or integrate it further into the rest of the country and regions.

(2) An extensive consultation and contact with both regional and federal leader politicians on pressing socio-economic, educational and developmental issues of constituents in the area.

(3) A wide-ranging consultation with politicians, intellectuals, business leaders at the grassroots level about their socio-economic, investment and developmental aspirations.

 (4) An extensive outreach and friendly official contacts with other prominent social and cultural counterparts in the Somali region such as the grand Ugases, Garads and chief Sultans about the general situation of the Somali region as circumstances would permit.

As you may aware of it, Dr. Ugas Abdirashid is the son of the venerable Ugas Roble Ugas Gerachmach Dode. Ugas Abdirashid   is a gentle soul with unmatched integrity and leadership ethics, which is rare commodity among   the current crop of Somali leaders in the region and elsewhere. The late Ugas Roble was brutally killed, along with some high profile leaders and businessmen in the region by the retreating Derg army in Jijiga city at height of 1977/78 Ethio-Somali disaster war. Derg soldiers went on desperate, wild rampage after Somali fighters besieged the city thereby taking hostage and later killing every Somali in sight regardless of his social status and tribal affiliation.  

Ethiopian Somali Region has never recovered from that dreadful period of history. The few capable leaders and intellectuals were either killed or exiled to the outside world and that is probably what causes chronic leadership deficiency crises in the region.  It is about time the masses in Regional State should realize the seriousness of the problem and fix it accordingly. Though far from perfect, current federalism system offers plenty opportunity and developmental incentives that never existed before to cope with.

Some tough and systemic socio-economic and developmental issues facing constituents in the region prompted latest high profile engagements of the honorable Ugas and his delegation. Understandably, many supporters and aficionados of the Ugas and his mission are waiting to greet the delegation with olive branches in every town, village and farm across the region.

 We wish the grand Ugas and his entourage peace and great success.

contact:

Mohamed Awale

Moe-@hotamil.com