Garad Jama Garad Ali (Somali: Garaad Jaamac Garaad Cali, Arabic: (جراد جامع جراد علي is the traditional clan sultan (Garad) of the Dhulbahante. On May 22, 2006 he was crowned in Las Anod in the presences of a large crowd, including high-ranking dignitaries from the Somali Government, Somali Region, Somaliland, and Puntland region Somalia
Garad Jama belongs to a dynastical line of succession that had a continuous hereditary nature for four centuries, except during the Darawiish period.[citation needed] Garad Jama is a vocal advocate for a united Somalia. He has continuously rejected Puntland's overtures or Somaliland's quest for independence[citation needed]. In numerous appearances, Garad Jama has called for the withdrawal of Puntland and Somaliland troops from the Dhulbahante inhabited regions of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn.[1]
Las-canod
The Garad Jama of Sool region - Las-canod district & Doollo currently resides in the border town of Sahdheer.[2]
While Garad Jama is supportive of Somali unity, his predecessor, Garad Abdiqani Garad Jama, who led the Dhulbahante delegation in the Grand Conference in Burao in 1991 was first to table the case for secession, and was one of several signatories of the Somaliland Declaration of Independence on behalf of the Dhulbahante.[3][4] Nonetheless, Garad Abdiqani was never fully convinced of Somaliland's secessionist endeavour,[5] and later retracted his support when he participated in the foundation of Puntland in 1998.[6]
Since his coronation, the Garad is actively engaged in peace and reconciliation efforts in the northern Somali regions. He primarily participates and spearheads efforts to resolve conflicts in Somaliland, Puntland state of Somalia and the Somali Region of Ethiopia. The Garad also possess a huge political sway and plays an influential role in the social dynamics of the northern Somalis.
In 1985, his father Garad Ali died. At this time Jama was 15 years old, too young to assume the position of Garad, so the position was taken over by Garad Abdiqani Garad Jama, brother of Garad Ali.[7]
Garad Jama's predecessor Garad, Garad Abdiqani Garad Jama, who led the Dhulbahante delegation in the Grand Conference in Burao in 1991 was first to table the case for secession, and was one of several signatories did not Somaliland Declaration of Independence on behalf of the Dhulbahante.[3][9] Nonetheless, Garad Abdiqani was never fully convinced of Somaliland's secessionist endeavour,[10] and later retracted his support when he participated in the foundation of Puntland in 1998.[11]
On 9 February 2006, Garad Abdiqani Garad Jama died.[12]: 1 In this section, he will be written Garad Jama.
The Coronation
The coronation brought together, for the first time after the collapse of Somali Government in 1991, a large number of politically diverse politicians such as former Somali Prime Minister Ali Khalif Galaydh, the President and the Vice-President of Puntland.
It took place on May 22, 2006, in Geedo-Qarsay Valley, near Las Anod, where Garad Jama's father (Garad Ali aka Ali Garad Jama), his uncle (Garad Abdiqani Garad Jama), and his grandfather (Garad Jama) were crowned. The Las-Anoders showed their well-known hospitality to the thousands of guests who attended "the once of a lifetime" ceremony. The audiences were entertained with well-trained horses that were decorated by damasks and embroidery, which manifested the traditional craftsmen and women's hard work based on the rich Somali cultural heritage.
At 10 o'clock the milk was poured onto the Garad. Milk is a symbol of peace and eternal prosperity; this act is true to the equilibrium of the virtues of the traditional culture.
Press outlets of varying degrees of conventionality have utilized the abbreviation SSCD (Sool, Sanaag, Cayn, Doollo) for Garad Jama.[13][14][15][16]
Republic of Somaliland
In 2007, Garad Jama visited Las Anod.[17] However, the Somaliland Republic force occupied Las Anod. For the next 15 years, Garad Jama did not visit Las Anod.[18]
In October 2009, Garad Jama met with the BBC after a meeting in Nairobi and demanded that the Somaliland army withdraw from Las Anod and Buuhoodle. However, Bashe Mohamed Farah, deputy speaker of the Somaliland parliament, refused.[19]
Garad Jama joined Dhulbahante's militia Khatumo State as a traditional leader, which began operating around 2012.[8]: 115
In August 2012, a meeting of the Khatumo State was held in Sahdheer, where Garad Jama lives, and Ali Khalif Galaydh was elected as the new president.[8]: 116
In November 2013, Garad Jama criticized the Puntland government for interfering with the Khatumo State and the Khatumo State Vice President for responding to a dialogue with the Puntland government with a Buuhoodle.[20]
Around April 2014, when the Khatumo State began to decline, he was living in Sahdheer, not in the center of the Khatumo State, and had contact with Puntland.[8]: 115
On January 23, 2023, Garad Jama visited Las Anod for the first time in 15 years,[25][26] where he was welcomed. Garad Jama said that the Somaliland government was cause of the chaos in Las Anod and killing civilians who was protesting peacefully in the city of Las Anod will no longer be controlled by Hargeisa.[27]
On January 31, Garad Jama accused the Somaliland military of being the terrorists in response to Somaliland's president describing the forces disrupting Las Anod as terrorists.[28]
