“Chasing the Stolen Meteorite: Maxamed Dhicisow’s Fight for Ceel Cali’s Lost Heritage”
In the arid yet storied region of Ceel Cali, where every stone held history and every gust of wind whispered tales of ancestors, a massive meteorite sat at the heart of the indigenous community. To the people of Ceel Cali, this meteorite was not merely a chunk of space rock but a sacred artifact, believed to carry the spirit of their heritage and the protection of their land. The meteorite, weighing an astounding 16 tons, had been preserved and revered for generations as a celestial gift.
Watch the full interview at https://youtu.be/rCOvTA0jIvM?si=05kB5r4UCurFr94U
Maxamed Nuur Barre, known locally as Maxamed Dhicisow and by the infamous name Maxamed Ceel Cali among Al-Shabaab operatives, was a man who had seen a lifetime of struggle. Aged 53, with a quiet resolve shaped by disability, Maxamed was a steadfast guardian of Ceel Cali’s traditions and heritage. He had grown up beside the meteorite, marveling at its alien contours, absorbing the community’s stories about its arrival and its role as a symbol of resilience and identity. To him, the meteorite was not just a rock—it was a promise of survival, a piece of history linking the living to the long-departed.
But then, in an act that shook Ceel Cali to its core, the sacred meteorite vanished. It was not an ordinary theft; this was a violent robbery orchestrated by Al-Shabaab militants, commissioned by businessmen hungry for wealth, and enabled by a web of corruption that included some of the country’s highest officials: President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre, and Fahad Yasin, the head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). The meteorite’s fate was sealed behind closed doors, earmarked for export to China, with fragments allocated to institutions abroad, including the University of Alberta in Canada and the University of California in the USA.
The outrage and despair in Ceel Cali were boundless. Maxamed, though disadvantaged by his disability, was galvanized by a fierce determination. The elders of Ceel Cali mourned the loss as a wound to their very soul, but Maxamed couldn’t bear to sit in silence. Against all advice and with nothing more than the will to reclaim his people’s heritage, he set out on a perilous journey to track down the sacred stone.
Maxamed’s journey took him through treacherous territories controlled by Al-Shabaab. Guided by whispers, rumors, and the fading hope of finding the meteorite, he risked life and limb to infiltrate their ranks. With grit and deception, he managed to enter their camps under the guise of seeking work, listening carefully for any information about the missing meteorite. He lingered there for months, keeping his purpose hidden, surviving the merciless training regimens, and enduring the harsh realities of life among Al-Shabaab militants.
But with time, hope began to falter. Every lead faded into dust. Desperation grew, and Maxamed knew he could no longer stay. The dream of retrieving the meteorite for Ceel Cali was slipping away. He attempted to flee under the cover of darkness, but as fate would have it, he was intercepted by Somali government militias, who promptly arrested him.
To the government, Maxamed was no longer the protector of Ceel Cali’s heritage. Instead, they saw a suspicious man, a supposed militant with ties to Al-Shabaab, one more body in their endless conflict. They detained him, subjected him to brutal interrogation, and, ignoring his pleas of innocence, branded him as a traitor. After weeks of torment and torture, they paraded Maxamed on Somalia’s National TV, painting him as an insurgent, a dangerous man with alleged ties to terrorism.
Following the broadcast, Maxamed Nuur Barre, the man who had given everything for his people’s legacy, vanished without a trace. Some say he was swallowed up by the shadowy corridors of the government’s secret detention centers; others believe he was handed back to Al-Shabaab as part of a silent bargain. Ceel Cali still mourns the loss of Maxamed and their cherished meteorite, his story woven into the community’s oral tradition as a testament to courage, betrayal, and the unbreakable bond between a people and their heritage.
Past attempts to violently rob the Ceel Cali meteorite by the Canadian Peacekeeping forces stationed in Beledweyne in 1993 was confirmed by the previous Ceel Cali district mayor known as Yarow Abiikar… listen to the full interview athttps://youtu.be/PB46J_2LPoU?si=bd7dQsmhOrbwAFTc
The incumbent mayor of Ceel Cali and the head of the local police and traditional elder confirm the Ceel Cali community’s ownership of the meteorite as their cultural heritage and that it was robbed by al-shabab terrorists, killing many locals, watch the full interview in this link https://youtu.be/dyKy5FfLS1g?si=9EdarsdVQ1gEvT8q
The ownership of the meteorite to the Ceel Cali community is also evident in their traditional songs and dances around the meteorite site as the following videos in the links show where the local recognize the meteorite as a sacred one and held their marriage ceremony nearby the meteorite during the night
https://youtu.be/aCeKfUMT5MI?si=2Ht1b2I0JJmmfEkM
Traditional dances near the meteorite site and under the famous trees of Ceel Cali known as “Harar”.
https://youtu.be/UrPjzU4blf8?si=Jouw18Fyd9Myb8Cw
https://youtu.be/HTPRuNgXytQ?si=-ifl1_QGmhOZVomT
The indigenous community of Ceel Cali is known and respected for their camel keeping tradition as the photos below illustrate:
Cultural Heritage Preservation and the Natural Resources Sharing in Somalia
there is no explicit clause in Somalia’s Constitution that specifically addresses natural resources sharing. However, there are provisions that relate to the allocation of powers and resources between the Federal Government and Federal Member States.
Article 54 of the Constitution: This article states that the allocation of powers and resources between the Federal Government and Federal Member States shall be negotiated and agreed upon by the Federal Government and Federal Member States, except in matters pertaining to foreign affairs, national defense, citizenship and immigration, and monetary policy. This provision implies that the sharing of natural resources may be addressed through negotiations between the Federal Government and Federal Member States.
Silence on Ownership of Natural Resources: The Puntland Constitution is silent on the ownership of natural resources, suggesting that the issue may be subject to interpretation or negotiation between the Federal Government and Federal Member States.
Principles for Security Forces: The Constitution’s provision on Principles for Security Forces (Chapter 15, Article 132) emphasizes the importance of upholding the Constitution and respecting the laws of the land. While not directly addressing natural resources sharing, this provision underscores the need for security forces to operate within the framework of the Constitution.
Limitations on Rights: Article 132(2) of the Constitution states that a right may be limited by law or specific exceptions only if the limitation is demonstrably reasonable and justified according to the values underlying the Constitution. This provision could potentially be applied to natural resources sharing, requiring any limitations or agreements to be reasonable and justified.
Somalia Signs Cultural Heritage Convention
Somalia has ratified the two major UNESCO cultural conventions: the World Heritage Convention (1972) and the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003). The country signed the instruments of ratification in July 2020, making it the 194th State Party to the World Heritage Convention and the 180th State Party to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention.
This significant step enables Somalia to:
Identify and nominate potential cultural and natural World Heritage sites for international recognition
Protect and conserve its rich cultural heritage, including intangible traditions and practices
Benefit from UNESCO’s international network of support and expertise in safeguarding and managing cultural heritage.
The above mentioned legal facts demonstrate the legal of ownership of the meteorite solely goes to the Ceel Cali Indigenous Community with the possibility to share benefits with the federal government.
HANAHR Research Desk