Open Letter to Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, on Somalia

Your Majestic Eminence,

It is more than a decade when I met you last, in the Yildiz Palace, at the IRCICA office in Istanbul, when Dr. Halit Eren introduced me to you.

I am currently writing to you with burning concern for the multi-divided Muslim nation of the Somalis, who are currently finding themselves in the most critical crossroads of their 4-millennium long history that started with Middle Egyptian Hieroglyphic references to the Land of Punt, also known as Ta Netser – ’the Land of Gods’, already prior to the great Expedition to Punt by Pharaoh Hatshpsut (ca. 1480) that has been grandly described on the Western Wall of the Second Colonnade of Queen Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple at Deir el Bahari – Thebes West, Luxor.

As Historian with specialization in the role of the Horn of Africa in the development of the East – West Trade Relations and the ensuing Cultural Exchanges 1, and as Political Scientist concerned with the extraordinary practice of Human Rights violation in the area, I call on your attention and understanding, dedication and initiative.

Somalia is one of the OIC Founding Members, and with the exception of the Yemenite origin Banaadiris, it consists in a single nation sharing same language, religion, and culture.

However, the entire coast from the Horn of Africa – Akroterion Aromaton, Cape of Spices for the Periplus of the Red Sea 1st century CE text, down to Dar es Salam and Zanzibar, Rhapta for the Greek and Latin speaking authors, was a Yemenite colony (of the merged Himyar – Sheba kingdoms), widely known as Azania, involving mixed marriages and vast linguistic, religious and cultural exchanges that facilitated the later diffusion of Islam.

The Immense Desolation of the Somalis

Before further expanding, I would also like to convey to your Majestic Eminence the extreme desolation and despair of the Somalis, who – right or wrong – feel completely abandoned by all, Africans, Arabic speaking countries, Europeans, Indians, and Americans.

Nothing from Africa

Yet, the Somalis, sharing the same skin colour, ethnic origin, continent, great past, and (more recently) dramatic colonial experience with almost all the other African nations, would rightfully expect at least lip service from some of them; however, quite disappointingly, nothing came from this direction.

Nothing from Arabic speaking countries

Yet, the Somalis, sharing the same religion and religious tongue with the Arabic speaking countries, with some of which cohabitate in the same continent, and having been exposed to a similar traumatic colonial experience, would reasonably wait for some support from several Arabic speaking countries; however, quite frustratingly, nothing came from this direction.

Nothing from Europe

Yet, the Somalis, sharing a great part of interactions with many historical European nations, in either Pre-Islamic or Modern times, would plausibly assume that the European nations, having methodically formed an economically and politically considerable European Union, would have made amendment of earlier, colonial times’ misperceptions and injustices, and would come to help of an illustrious historical nation in disarray; however, quite exasperatingly, nothing came from this direction.

Nothing from India

Yet, the Somalis, sharing the same History and the same Ocean with India – and a great ocean of interconnectedness and exchanges the Indian Ocean has been for millennia, if we only take into account the 2.5 millennia old, navigational use of the Monsoons (’Hippalus’ winds’) and the ensuing straightforward ocean-crossing from either the Horn of Africa to the Malabar Coast of India or from Indonesia’s Sumatra (then known as Chryse, the ’Golden’) to Azania’s Rhapta on ’sewn’ boats that gave precisely Zanzibar’s oldest name –, would logically anticipate that, emerging as a global super power, India would demonstrate attention, interest and dedication; however, quite regretfully, nothing came from this direction.

Nothing from America

Yet, the Somalis, sharing the same anti-colonial ideals, concepts, and principles with the world’s sole superpower, the United States of America, would understandably presume the manifestation of solidarity from the political leadership of G. Washington’s and Thomas Jefferson’s country; however, quite sadly, nothing came from this direction.

Organization of the Islamic Conference – Sole Hope for Somalis

The Somalis can expect – I believe – only from you and the Organization of the Islamic Conference; they have noticed all, your personal involvement in the Jeddah Peace Agreement last September, your subsequent call ’on all OIC Member States to actively contribute to the peace building in Somalia’, and the latest Appeal to "the combatants, especially the foreign troops, to exercise their utmost restraint to Save Innocent Lives" in the latest round of violence.