By M.A. Egge
The Vice President of the Republic of Somaliland, Amb Mohamed Ali aw Abdi, attended a stately funeral in Borama that was accorded to the late Sultan Suleiman Ali Ismail, may Allah have mercy on him, who passed on a day earlier.
He was one of the senior most, and the longest-serving traditional leader, of Somaliland who held the post for 60 years, with a legacy of a peace-oriented elder who worked to rebuild the country and bring peace to the Somaliland tribes.
The National Funeral of Sultan Suleiman Ali Ismail, may Allah have mercy on him, was attended by members of the Somaliland cabinet, most of the traditional leaders, MPs from both houses, the Awdal regional administration and the Borama district, traditional leaders from neighboring countries such as Ethiopia and most of dignitaries of the people of Somaliland in general.
The Sultan’s body, which was taken from his former residence, was taken to his real home and buried in the Goraya’awl Cemetery in surburbs of Borama city, where thousands of mourners engaged in the prayers for the dead.
After the deceased was buried, his son, Sultan Mohamed Sultan Suleiman, was inaugurated tentatively at the spot to carry on the mantles of traditional leadership.
In his eulogy, he Vice President H.E. Mohamed Ali Aw- Abdi, spoke about the history of the late Sultan Suleiman and described him as a righteous servant who was quite religious, mainly known for peacemaking in the community, and who played a similar major role for the nation.
Similar leaders among the members of the Somaliland cabinet, including the ministers of internal security, information, foreign affairs, water resources and eminent personalities gave similar sentiments at the funeral.
The elderly traditional leader was believed to be a centurion, with 60 years of his life being a sultan.