Somali Youth League (SYL)

The Somali Youth league (SYL, Somali: Ururka Dhalinyarada Soomaaliyeed), initially known as the Somali Youth Club (SYC), was the first political party in Somalia. it played a key role in the nation's road to independence during the 1940s,1950s, and 1960s.

                        

History

Somali Youth Club

During the Second World War , Britain occupied Italian Somaliland and militarily administered the territory from 1941 to 1950. Under British rule in Somalia. The first modern Somali political party, the Somali Youth Club (SYC), was subsequently established in Mogadishu in 1943.

 Formation of Somali Youth League

At its foundation in 1943, the party had thirteen founding members. The Harari would become members in 1946 when SYL opened an office in Harar. SYL supported Greater Somali with Harar being the capital and a combined Harari-Somali representatives were commissioned to reveal this proposal to the U.N office in Mogadishu. 

Somali Youth League members were significantly  influenced by the earlier religious rebellion at the return of the century of various religious figures such as Uways Al-Barawi,  Sheikh hassan Barsane and Mohammed Abdullah Hassan.

To empower the new party, the better educated police and civil servants were permitted to join it. By 1948, following on official visit to the territory by the four Power commission, the SYC was a well-structured political unit, Abdullahi isse was elected as its secretory general and renamed itself as the Somali Youth League (SYL) and began to open offices not only in Italian and British Somaliland, but also in the Ogaden and in the Northern Frontier District ( NFD). 

The SYL's stated objectives were to unify all Somali territories, including the NFD and the Ogaden; to create opportunities for universal modern education; to develop the Somali language by a standard national orthography; to safeguard Sand to Somali interests; and to oppose the restoration of Italian rule. SYL policy banned clannishness so that the thirteen founding members, although representing four of Somalia's five major clans, refused to disclose their clan affiliations although the SYL enjoyed considerable popular support from northerners, the principal parties in British Somaliland were Somali National League (SNL) and National united front (NUF), mainly associated with the Isaaq clan, and the United Somali Party (USP), which had the support of the Dir (Gadabuursi) and Darod (dhulbahante and warsangali) clans.

Trust territory of Somaliland

In 1945, the Potsdam conference was held, where it decided no to Italian Somaliland to Italy. The Somali Youth League had proposed a UN Trusteeship to lead Somalia to independence, under the condition that it was not under Italian administration and that the Trusteeship managed all Somali territories. in a memo to the UN the SYL stated:

"We do no pretend we can stand on our own feet for the moment, but ask the United Nations trusteeship council to decide questions relating to the formation, boundaries, and administration of a Somali trust Territory know as Somalia, this territory to consist of all areas present predominantly populated by Somalis."

In November 1949 the United Nations granted Italy trusteeship of the former Italian Somaliland.

The Somali Youth League was firmly against Italian return to Somalia in any form, and campaigned against the return of Italian return of Italian rule with the slogan, " No matter what the color, a wolf is always a wolf. " Before the Italians returned to Somalia, the SYL held a major summit in order to formulate a common policy and  unified attitude toward the Trusteeship government. It was initially decided to launch an armed resistance, but after serious deliberation the league came to the conclusion that a more temperate course would be better for Somali citizens. Following the summits conclusion, the SYL delivered a paper to the chief Italian administrator explaining its position. The League informed the administration that it would continue to agitate for independence and expressed hope that the new government would not resist SYL efforts. It was made clear that the organization was willing to cooperate with the trusteeship authorities if they reciprocated. The League demanded that Arabic be made Italian the official language of the trusteeship instead of Italian and further requested that Italian government not bring back officials from the fascist era.

The first half of AFIS's decade long rule would be marked by animosity and conflict between the Italian authorities and the Somali Youth League. Numerous SYL officials who had gained positions of prominence during the era of British Military Administration were either demoted, removed from their positions or imprisoned by Italian officials. These attempts to to marginalize the league would lead to demonstrations across the country which were strongly repressed by the government, who had at the time come to decision not cooperate or concede to the SYL's plans. 

Independence and formation Somali Republic 

British Somaliland remained a protectorate of Britain until June 26, 1960, when it became independence. the former Italian Somaliland followed suit five days later. on July 1, 1960, the two territories united to form the Somali Republic, albeit within boundaries drawn up by Italy and Britain. A government was formed by Abdullahi Issa Mohamud and Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal with Aden Abdullah Osman Da'ar  as the first president of the Somali Republic. and Abdirashid Ali Shermarke as Prime minister. Later to become president (from 1967 - 1969). On July 20, 1961 and through a popular referendum, the Somali people ratified a new constitution, which was first drafted in 1960.

In the first national elections after independence, held on 30 March 1964, the SYL won an absolute majority of 69 of the 123 parliamentary seats. The remaining seats were divided among 11 parties. Five years from them in general elections held in march 1969, the ruling SYL led by Mohammed Ibrahim Egal returned to power, However, in the same year, then president of Somalia Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke was assassinated.

1969 coup d'etet and dissolution

In 1969 military coup ensued, with Siad Barre now assuming leadership. Siad Barre's Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) subsequently the country the Somali Democratic Republic, arrested members of the former government, banned political parties, dissolved the parliament and the Supreme court, and suspended the constitution.

Political leaders:

Founders and leaders

The following is a list of the SYL'S 13 original

• Abdulkadir Sheikh Sakhawudeen 
• Yasin Haji Osman Sharmarke
• Dahir Haji Osman Sharmarke (Dhegawayne)
• Mohamed Hirsi Nur (Sayedin)
• Haji Mohamed Hussein Hamud
• Osman Geeddi Rage
• Dhere Haji Dhere
• Ali Hassan Maslah
• Mohamed Ali Nur
• Mohamed Farah Hilowle 
• H. Mohamed Abdullahi Hayesi

Notable members

the following is a list of other notable public officials from the SYL's ranks:

Presidents

1.  Aden Abdullah Osman Da'ar: July 1, 1960 - June 10, 1967;
2.  Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke: July 6 1967 -     0ctober 15, 1969;
3.  Mukhtar Mohamed Hussein: October 15. 1969 - October 21, 1969;

Prime Ministers

•         Abdullahi Issa mohamud: February 29, 1956 - June 10, 1969
•            Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke: July 1, 1960 - June 10, 1964
•           Abdirizak Haji Hussein: June: 14, 1964 - July 15, 1967
•           Mohammad Haji Ibrahim Egal: July 15, 1967 - October 21, 1969
•           Aden Isaaq Ahmed: October 21, 1969 to siad coup
•        Umar Arteh Ghalib: January 24, 1991 - May 1993

Presidents of the Somali National Assembly

•           Abdikadir Mohamed Aden (Zoobe): July 1, 1960 - mid - July 1960
•           Haji Bashir Ismail Yusuf: Mid-July 1960 - Mid-July 1960
•          Jama Abdullahi Qalib: mid-July 1960 - May 26, 1964
•          Ahmed Mohamed Obsiye: May 26, 1964 - 1967
•        Mukhtar Mohamed Hussein: 1967 - October 15, 1969

Ministers

·        Abdullahi Mohammed Ahmed: Minister of National and  coordination

·         Sheikh Abdikani Sheikh Ahmed: Minister of Justice and Religion Affairs

·        Haji Farah Ali Omer: Minister of Economic Affairs  

·         Hirsi Bulhan Farah: Minister of livestock

·         Mohamed Said Samatar: Minister of state

·        sheikh Ali Jimale: Minister of Health, Lanour and Veterinary

·         Michael Mariano: Minister of Economic planning 

Parliamentarians

 Osman Haji Mohamed: MP FOR El Dheer 

Other

·    Ali Shido Abdi: Vice-Chairman of the SYL 

·     Lewis Clement Salool: Lewis designed the SYL flag in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1942 

·     Ali Herzi Farah; Honourable speaker & central committee member.

  Somali Youth Day

The Somali Youth League's establishment on May 15, 2943 is annually commemorated in Somalia. Official celebrations are organized throughout the country on this Somali Youth Day to honour the SYL's members and their key role in the nation's path to independence. In 20214, government representatives, youth associations, women's groups, singers and local residents celebrated the Somali Youth League's 71st anniversary.