Dear brothers and sisters, esteemed members of the Awdal State Movement and the entire people of Awdal/Salal regions and Gabiley District,
Today, we gather to mark a day of profound sorrow and remembrance—the 4th of February. It is a day that will forever be etched in our hearts and minds, a day when the lives of thousands of innocent civilians from the Awdal/Salal and Gabiley community were violently taken from us. We stand here not just to remember the past but to honour the legacy of those who were brutally murdered simply for being who they were.
On this dark day, the fascist SNM militia, supported by over 1,000 Ethiopian troops, unleashed a wave of terror upon our people. The fascist SNM and the Ethiopian troops who were supporting them (since SNM could not defeat on its own the Gadaboursi tribal militias) were targeting only the Gadaboursi people. Cities such as Low yacada, Toqoshi, Zayla, Ceel Gaal, Geerisa, Jidhi, Lughaya, Bula Xaar, Xariirad, Caada, Cali Xaydh, Ila-Cadays, Laan Cawaale, Gar Gaara, Osoli, Garba Dadar, Fardaha, Gabiley, Dilla, and Borama became sites of unimaginable horror. Mothers, fathers, children, and even infants—all lost their lives in a senseless act of brutality that targeted them solely because of their identity as the people of Awdal/Salal and Gabiley.
Let us remember that these individuals had no ties to the military regime. In fact, it was the Isaaq community that held more power within that regime. Our people were innocent bystanders caught in a tragic storm of hatred and violence, targeted simply for their heritage. The genocide they faced was not just an assault on our bodies but an attack on our very humanity.
As we gather here today, we must not only mourn the lives cut short but also reignite our commitment to justice and remembrance. We owe it to those who perished to ensure that their stories are told, their names are remembered, and their sacrifices are honoured. We will not allow their memories to fade into the shadows of history.
I call upon each of you to stand with me, to share the stories of our beloved departed, to ensure that the world knows the truth of what happened on that fateful day. We must not be silent, for silence allows oppression to thrive. We must raise our voices, not only for those who can no longer speak for themselves but for future generations who deserve to live in a world free from such atrocities.
Together, let us send a powerful message to the international community, to human rights organizations, and to all who will listen: the massacre of our people can not and will not be forgotten. We demand justice for the people of Awdal/Salal and Gabiley District, and we seek accountability for those who perpetrated these heinous acts.
As the leader of the Awdal State Movement, I stand before you today to affirm our unwavering commitment to justice, peace, and reconciliation. We will not be deterred by the darkness of our past; instead, we will emerge from it stronger and more united than ever.
To our fallen heroes and heroines, we say: your lives mattered, your struggles mattered, and your legacy will continue to inspire us. We will keep your memory alive, and we will fight for a future where such atrocities are but a distant memory.
Thank you for your strength, your resilience, and your commitment to justice. Together, we will ensure that the sacrifices of our people will never be in vain.
Long live the Awdal State Movement! Long live the memory of our martyrs!
