What can newspaper archives tell us about Somaliland?

My intentions for my research internship to Hargeisa was to get my hands on a privately collected collection of newspapers that circulated in the early 90s. These were stored by the founder of Hargeisa International Book fair (HIFB) and Hargeisa Cultural Centre (HCC), Dr. Jama Musse Jama. It was through our exchanges on texts and calls that the idea came up. He had held onto this newspaper collection, hoping either he or someone would do research on. My interest in national identity in Somaliland and its expressions, aligned with what I was wishing to find in the newspapers. It didn’t take much convincing, taking on this project.

Once I arrived there, it was crucial to familiarise myself with the early 90s period in Somaliland. My parents left Somalia then for Europe in 1990 which correlate with the civil war 1988-1991. That was the only war I knew off. What I didn’t know much about was the other skirmishes in the borders of Somaliland in 1992 and 1994-1996. This meant I had to collect background information just to be able to decipher the content of the newspapers. Very few materials cover this mostly due to the Battle of Mogadishu dominating coverage of the Horn but also due to the shame people felt on fighting within themselves after a civil war of secession.

One my ask why newspapers? As I mentioned earlier, very little is written about this period. The few I found were academic papers covering the reconciliation talks happening during the years of 1991-1997. Adding onto this, the academic papers are of course mostly written by western researchers/authors. I was curious on what the locals were recounting and gaining their perspective on their history. Media production was nonexistent in the country. The only radio permitted was the government owned Radio Hargeisa which didn’t broadcast further than the capital and nearing areas. Televisions didn’t come till later which leaves us with newspapers.

Newspapers were the only media outlet with no restriction which allowed it to blossom as an independent opening. The first newspaper started on April 1991 by the information department of Somali National Movement (SNM), on the 10th anniversary of its establishment. Named Ileys (light), they were quickly followed by others such as Xorriya ( freedom), Jamhuuriya ( The Republic) and Codka Hargeysa ( Voice of Hargeysa). Answering the question on why newspapers, I believe the freedom the newspapers had, allows us to get a unique insight that is specific and local oriented compared to other coverages of the time in a physical documentation.

Once I got my hands on the collection, I categorized them by date and content to get a chronological understanding of the time. Dr. Jama was able to save six issues. Here are the following;
• Codka- Oct 1992
• Xorriya- Feb 1993
• Jamhuuriya- March 1993
• Xorriya- Jul 1994
• Jamhuuriya- Oct 1994
• Geeska Afrika- Jan 1995

I had certain expectations on what topics to expect. Coverage of the reconciliation talks throughout the years, the war in Mogadishu etc. However, despite the few editions of primary source at my disposal, I was still able to get a perception of what mattered to the local people. Each issue was 6 pages and typed on a typing machine. Printing press came later to the country. There would be marriage announcements on some of the issues just like in the present newspapers. But due to the volatile period, politics is the centre of the coverage.

Milestones of the newly country were reported such as the adopting of the flag, creation of a new anthem, introducing the new currency, establishing of a police force and appointment of ministers. I also observed opinion pieces on why the British had abandoned Somaliland as a former protectorate in their time of need when Somali forces from Somaliland had fought alongside the British during the First and Second World Wars. A norm in Somali newspapers is drawn political cartoons often satire, depicting a certain situation at present. The one I saw was of a visit by Minister of State for Overseas development and Africa, Lynda Chalker to Hargeisa on Xorriya 93 edition. The question at hand being why you forgot us.

Nonetheless, it was the in-depth coverage of the skirmishes of country that became the unexpected contender for me. As a diaspora kid with interest in Somali history, I assumed I knew of the main events of the country. Yet, even then, I was unaware of a large portion of our history. I knew of the reconciliation talks but never connected that to the clashes happening internally. The newspapers became the better coverage of those events which are integral to the national history. Despite understanding why locals would rather forget and move from unfortunate actions, I believe it is those key steps that define the trajectory of history. It was due to that, that the reconciliation talks succeeded despite different clans living together. Writing on the talks heavily emphasize how it was the indigenous and local way that created peace in Somaliland and not the Western methods. The talks started in the coastal city of Berbera already in Feb 1991 with the aim of a bigger meeting to be scheduled right after. The second location was in the second biggest city, Burao from April-May 1991 known also as the Grand Brotherhood Conference of the Northern clans. It was in Burao that Somaliland declared they would leave united Somalia and become independent. The third round was held in the city of Borama between Jan-May 1993. Borama was important as the city is the stronghold of a minority clan. The last talk was held in the capital, Hargeisa in 1997 after the battles had ended completely in the country.

It was through these talks that Somaliland became the country we know today. And it was the newspapers that documented as the events unfolded. My only dream is that others have also preserved copies of those years as most of the printing press went out of business soon enough, along with its history.