After weeks in Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Borama, here am on board of my return flight. This was rather a unique trip, I might say, considering the feelings attached to it: lots of joy and some tears. Joy in the sense that it helped me reconnect with colleagues, counterparts, family members and friends, some of whom, I haven’t seen close to two decades, hence warranting joy and rejoicing. Tears, of course, refer to loss of a friend and lately, a colleague, while on mission.
Heightened Alert
The first leg of the trip took me to Mogadishu, where my arrival,
coincidentally, happened at a time with heightened security alert. Intensified
fighting with AS was reported in a number of regions, mainly in Hiiraan and
Galgudud. Local militias, known as Macawisley, fed up with shock and awe; and
getting moral and material support from the army waged war against strongholds
of AS. Understandably, security situation is tightened in many of Mogadishu’s
landmarks including the place of my stay. This unfortunately, limited my
movement and interactions with some of my colleagues and friends, whose
discussion I could hardly wait for. After an extended period of virtual
engagement, face-to-face discussion meant a lot. Working together, while output
delivery is flavored with collegial laughter is what I missed and longed for.
Magnificent Landmarks
However, I managed to visit the newest and probably, the most
beautiful mosque in Mogadishu, if not in the entire region, to attend Friday
sermon. Recently built by a businessman, the giant Ali Jimale Mosque with
state-of-the-art outlook, designed, perhaps, with Ottoman Empire-like
architectural design, will clearly attract many devoted worshippers and, if
situation allows visitors alike. Praying there, whilst reminiscing so fondly
the beauty and blessings of Prophet Mohamed’s (PBUH) mosque in Madina was
refreshing, heart-enriching and so profound.
Airport mess up
On my way to Hargeisa, the airline I used was marred with
unscrupulous behavior and acts from airline ground staff. First, the long
queues and lines in the domestic terminal was chaotic. We had no option but to
spend hours in security screening. After finally presenting my ticket to
airline staff at the designated counter, the lady in the desk naively dismissed
my ticket as mistaken and belonging to another airline. I had to protest, of
course politely, and request her to look into it more carefully since the one
she is referring to is already used. Still hard to understand, she sought
clarification from her colleague sitting beside her, who looked not only senior
to her but also more experienced. They come back with equally another blunder-
that reference number is missing and therefore, I don’t have a valid ticket.
Whatever explanation I provided in that tensed moment, within a chaotic
atmosphere, fell on deaf ears. Seeking attentive ears to listen to my case, I
escalated my issue with seemingly a senior ground staff member. Surprisingly,
he repeated similar sentiments and when I kept explaining how my ticket is
combined with different legs, he walked away, clearly in disagreement. Trying
to get hold of him, I asked what other options he could think of. Buy a new
ticket, he responded dismissively.
Considering that it is a weekend, offices are closed, and it is hard
to reach travel agency, also mindful the upcoming burial, I had to buy a new
ticket. Again, I didn’t carry sufficient money and ATM machines were far, but
my colleague Mohiaidin, who is always so supportive and helpful, immediately wired
the remaining balance electronically.
Upon arriving in Hargeisa, the following morning, I wrote to the
ticket issuing authority, informing the mess up and urging them not to
reimburse the airline on that leg, as I was forced to buy a new ticket.
Interestingly, when issuing office reached out to the said airline, they
reported a no-show case! I put this simplistic explanation to an end after
sharing the new ticket, while they daringly issued two tickets for the same
passenger, with two different costs.
Mind-blowing discussions
Putting this aside, I am delighted to have met with; and engaged in
reassuring chats with old and new friends, admirers and acquaintances.
Extremely happy to move around in Hargeisa, mostly in early evenings, as an
invited guest; and taken to various food courts. Our discussion often centred
around self-discipline, personal and career development, current state of
affairs, humanitarian-development nexus, anchoring good governance on wealth
creation, quality education, genuine learning, acquiring marketable and
specific skills and continuing life-long learning appetite.
PCR Test still a requirement
On my way back, I struggled to understand the rationale behind
having a negative PCR test at Hargeisa airport, while already leaving. It is
ironic to see that PCR test is still a requirement for outgoing travelers; and
strangely enough, not for incoming ones, who clearly could pose greater health
risk. Worth to note that many of the travelers are vaccinated, some even triple-jabbed
including the booster. So Am I. This doesn’t make sense and should stop
immediately.
National Treasure
While there, I managed to collect my university-era belongings. Notebooks
on various undergraduate courses along with other learning materials constitute
reclaimed huge intellectual treasure. Everything there - handwritings, explanation
of concepts and theories as well as essays -put me back to an old learning
roller coaster. Going through these notebooks lately only reinforces how lots
of info could easily fade away as old memories are replaced by new experiences.
Revisiting such notes, I hope, will help me deep dive topics in the subject
matter and beyond.
Conclusion
Anyway, sitting here at the airport, in a middle of a four-hour-long
layover on my way back, thrilled to be associated with such brilliant and
caring people in different locations in one way or another.
Finally, I would like to register my appreciation to all those who
made my short stay there so lovely and memorable!
By: Abdirahman Adan Mohamoud
E-mail: abdirahman.adan@gmail.com
08/10/2022
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