We explored the market and the most important buildings of the proud capital of the non-existing state of Somaliland. Amongst others the hero’s monument: an emergency landed MIG 21 airplane the former dictator Sidi Barre sent to Hargeysa to bombard the secessionist Somalilandies.
Probably the poor pilot sold too much of his fuel before he started in Mogadishu. Running out of fuel he had to opt for an emergency landing near Hargeysa. History may confirm rumours that he hit a goat when landing on the scrub fields nearby. Unfortunately the pilot could not agree with the farmer on the correct compensation for the poor goat, so the secessionist army confiscated his plane – and due to lack of a competent pilot among the Somalilanders’ Tribal Secession Airforce they had no other choice than declaring this MIG 21 a national monument. At least this could explain the monument – other theories may exist.
