Subhead:The people of Somaliland share the story of how they rebuilt their nation, against the odds, after Hargeisa was bombed to ruins.#
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I’m reporting from Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, standing in front of the city’s iconic war memorial at Freedom Square, also known as Khayriyada Memorial Square. At its centre is a MiG‑17 fighter jet mounted on a plinth, a stark reminder of the devastation Hargeisa endured during the 1988 conflict.
“That is an iconic story. Really, this picture is a sadness, it’s a sorrow,” a local explained as I took in the memorial. Back then, Somaliland was still part of Somalia, yet the central government launched brutal air strikes that destroyed 90 per cent of the city and killed many thousands.
