By Prof. Abdulkadir Mohamed Dhicisow
Wednesday December 31, 2025
Hero Mohamed Abdulle Xalane joined the Somali National Army in 1957 and quickly distinguished himself as a disciplined, courageous, and devoted soldier. In recognition of his exceptional service, he earned both a Medal for Bravery and a Medal of Honor. His name was forever etched into Somali history in 1964 during the border conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia near Togwajaale in the Waqooyi Galbeed (North-West) region. When a heavily armed enemy force attacked a small Somali unit guarding the area, the Somali troops were eventually compelled to withdraw after a fierce battle. As they regrouped, Xalane noticed that the Somali flag was still flying inside the camp. Unable to accept the thought of leaving the national symbol behind, he returned alone into the occupied base. Surrounded by advancing enemy forces, he was struck repeatedly by bullets, yet the flag never touched the ground. Showing no sign of pain, he carried it back to his comrades. Though he later succumbed to his wounds, his mission was fulfilled: the flag and the honor of the nation were preserved. As he famously declared, “The enemy is not made of iron—crush them, and never allow them to bring down the soil and the Somali flag.” Through this sacrifice, Xalane did not simply die; he became immortal, leaving behind a legacy of dignity, courage, and honor for his nation and his children.
More than six decades later, that same spirit of defiance, principle, and national loyalty waspowerfully reflected in the actions of Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman (Baale). A statesman endowed by Allah (SWT) with integrity, wisdom, foresight, and moral courage, Ambassador Baale stood with honor and authority before the United Nations Security Council on Monday, 29 December 2025. In that global forum, he firmly and unequivocally defended the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia. With clarity and resolve, he confronted and categorically rejected acts of aggression by the Zionist entity that sought to violate Somalia’s sovereignty. Grounded in international law, justice, and moral responsibility, his address affirmed that the fragmentation or division of a free, sovereign, and internationally recognized state is unacceptable. His principled stance resonated strongly among members of the Security Council and earned widespread respect within the international diplomatic community.
Though separated by time and circumstance—one on the battlefield of Togwajaale and the other on the diplomatic stage of the United Nations— Martyr Mohamed Abdulle Xalane and Ambassador Abukar Baale are united by the same unwavering commitment to Somalia’s
flag, land, and dignity. One defended the flag with his wounded body; the other defended it with his voice before the world. Together, they embody a continuous legacy of Somali honor, resistance, and national pride, proving that the defense of sovereignty takes many forms, but
its essence remains unchanged.