A brief history from my father, Haji Omar Ibrahim.

                      Part.one 

A brief history from my father, Haji Omar Ibrahim.

Haji Omar-Haji Ibrahim, nicknamed "Colonel Gaagale," died on March 3, 2021, inMogadishu.

Colonel Ibrahim was born in the town of Segag, Ethiopia, in 1945.Haji Omar Ibrahim camefrom a family of exceptionally well-known religious scholars in ethnically Somalipopulated areas of Ethiopia and in western Somalia. 

Mr. Ibrahim attended an Islamic school knownas the Shaykh Barave Madrasa in Hargeisa in 1958. 

After his religious education,he moved to Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia in 1963 and enrolled inelementary school called Seraale. 

He then sat down for an exam and the students who received the highest points were awarded to go to the Islamicinstitution taught by Egyptian instructors from Al-Azharis, the most renownedand prestigious university for Islamic learning. 

In 1968, he graduated from Jamal Abdi Nasir Secondary School.  

In 1970, Mr.Ibrahim applied for an overseas scholarship because he aspired to pursue aninternational degree course to boost his military careers. Due to the rarity ofsuch a scholarship opportunity during the nascent revolutionary government, Mr.Ibrahim sat down for an examination, but he passed with flying colors.  Fortunately, he was among those few young studentsselected to be trained as military officers in Russia. 

The scholarship covered majorexpenses including tuition fees, textbooks, food, accommodation costs, travelexpenses, and more. 

In that period, Soviet Union universities were deemed as the most popular, prestigious, and prominent in the world. 

Mr. Ibrahim got anopportunity to study at the War Academy, Odessa university, in Ukraine. http://onu.edu.ua/en/ After he completed his military institution, he returned to the country in 1974.  

During his four years of military training, he was praisedby western and eastern European educators for his superior understanding andacademic progress, surpassing his fellow soldiers. 

Therefore, she was given twostars upon her arrival. With his love of a more rigorous education, Mr. Ibrahim continued to specialize in infantry and tanks. He attended another school in Somalia and Egypt.

After having received various training inside and outsidethe country, Mr. Ibrahim was promoted to the rank of "captain" in1975. During 1975 and 1977, he gained experience in the field of militaryleadership and warfare, and then he was transferred to Odweyne tank commander'scamp. 

When the conflict erupted between Somalia and Ethiopia in1977, Haji Omar was put in charge of the commander of the tank brigade. Because he was among the most experienced and competent officers chosen to lead thearmy. 

Because of his expertise, Somali forces have succeeded in weakening thethreat of Ethiopian forces against Somali areas of Ethiopia.

Colonel Gagale played animportant role during Somali-Ethiopia war and subsequent Somali revolutionary leadership. 

Many friends close to Mr. Ibrahim described him as a brave person whowas entrusted to lead the most difficult four battles between the twocountries. 

Because of his military leadership, Somali army defeated Ethiopia andtook over the four cities of Godey, Qabridahar, Dhagahbur and Jigjiga.

In 1979, the colonel wastransferred as the commander of the battalion to a military barrack in Qardho district.

After a few years, he was transferred to various military bases including Balanbalein central Somalia, Goldogob and back to Mogadishu. 

In Mogadishu, he was leading the Affissioni military barracks. 

After moving around in many cities and towns, he was at last transferred as a battalion commander to Gibelayin the North of Somalia in 1981.