Order of the Somali Star

Order of the Somali Star
Order of the Leopard variant
Type	Medal for highest degree of distinction
Awarded for	Acts of military gallantry Dedication and fidelity to the Somali Republic
Country	Somalia
Presented by	President of Somalia Government of Somalia
Eligibility	Somali and foreign citizens
Ribbon
Status	Active
Established	12 February 1961
First award	1965 – Major General Daud Abdulle Hirsi (posthumously)
Precedence
Next (higher)	None

The Order of the Somali Star is the highest distinction award for military gallantry in Somalia. The Order of the Somali Star has been awarded to members of the Somali Armed Forces and foreign citizens who have conducted and exhibited great fidelity to the Somali Republic. It has been issued mainly during the Ogaden War to military and police officers posthumously.

History

The Order of the Somali Star was established by the Government of Somalia in 1961, the year after Somalia became a republic. It was named in honor of the Somali flag, which features a sky-blue field with a white central star. The award was created by the first president of Somalia, Aden Adde. The award can be worn as a necklet, medal, or sash.

Statute

The title of Order of the Somali Star can be awarded for military gallantry in the service of Somalia. It can be awarded to both civilian and military personnel. The title can also be awarded posthumously if the heroic act costs the recipient his or her life. It may also be awarded to foreign citizens who display exceptional service to the Somali republic, The president of Somalia is the main conferring authority of the award although the Federal Parliament may nominate individuals for the president's consideration.

Description

The award comes in grades with the Order of the Leopard (formerly the Knight of the Grand Cross changed due to the adoption of Islam as the state religion) which gold-plated badge to be worn on the band and gold-plated plate to be worn on the left chest; Grand Officer, silver badge to be worn on a ribbon around the neck and plaque to be worn on the left chest; Commander, silver badge to be worn on a ribbon around the neck; Officer, silver badge to be worn on a ribbon with a rosette on the chest; Knight, silver badge to be worn on a ribbon on the chest. ^[1]

Recipients

The vast majority of recipients of this award are Somali military officers and enlisted soldiers who died in service to Somalia; however, there are foreign dignitaries who received this award due to their exceptional service to the Somali state.

Mohamed Siad Barre who was issued the Order in 1979 by the Supreme Revolutionary Council by the Politburo following the 10 year anniversary of the XHKS Revolution.

Individuals

Military personnel

• Major General Daud Abdulle Hirsi (Army)
• Major Elmi Nuur Tarey (Tarambi) (army)
• Major General Mohamed Siad Barre (Army)
• Major General Dahir Adan Elmi (Army)
• Lieutenant General Mohamed Ali Samatar (Army)
• Brigadier General Ali Matan Xashi (Air Force)
• Vice Admiral Mohamed Osman (Navy)
• Colonel Abukar Liban (Army)

Foreign dignitaries

• Fidel Castro – Awarded in 1977, for "extraordinary services to Somalia." ^[2]
• Faisal I – Awarded in light of diplomatic relations between Somalia and Saudi Arabia. ^[3]
• Anwar Sadat – Provided support during the Ogaden War. ^[4]
• Field Marshal Abdel Ghani el-Gamasy – Recognized for diplomatic relations with Somalia. ^[5]
• Mohammed Hassan El-Zayyat – Awarded for diplomatic efforts related to Somali independence. ^[6]
• Muammar Gaddafi – Recognized due to diplomatic relations. ^[7]
• Mohammad Reza I – Awarded based on shared diplomatic interests. ^[8]
• Lieutenant general Vasily Vasilyevich Shakhnovich – Served as Soviet military advisor to Somali Armed Forces. ^[9]
• Colonel general Grigory Grigorievich Borisov  ( ru ) – Served as Soviet military advisor to Somali Armed Forces. ^[10]
• Haile Selassie I – Awarded in 1960 by President Aden Adde. ^[11]
• Jaafar Nimeiry – Recognized due to diplomatic relations. ^[12]
• Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – Awarded in 2015 for contributions to Somalia. ^[13]
• Josip Broz Tito – Awarded in 1976 based on diplomatic relations. ^[14]

See also

• Order of the Nile
• Hero of the Soviet Union
• Nishan-e-Haider
• Gold Medal of Military Valour

References

1. "Order of the Star of Somalia | Militaria Altri Paesi". www.mymilitaria.net. Archived from the original on 2022-02-16. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
2. "1977: Granma Archives Index – LANIC". lanic.utexas.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
3. Owain Raw-Rees (1998). "King Faisal OF Saudi Arabia, His Awards and the Saudi Order of King Faisal" (PDF). 49 (4). The Medal Collector.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
4. ^{[ citation needed ]}
5. ^{[ citation needed ]}
6. "كتب ومؤلفات محمد حسن الزيات". 2022-07-08. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
7. ^{[ citation needed ]}
8. ^{[ citation needed ]}
9. "Жизнь под грифом «секретно»" . Retrieved 2024-08-28.
10. ^{[ citation needed ]}
11. Copley, Gregory R. (1998). Ethiopia reaches her hand unto god. Defense & Foreign Affairs. ISBN   1-892998-00-9.
12. UPITN 10 5 78 PRESIDENT SADAT MEETS NIMEIRY AND BARRE, 24 July 2015, retrieved 2022-02-16
13. "We have served our Somali brothers as required by our brotherhood". Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
14. Bilo je časno živjeti s Titom. RO Mladost, RO Prosvjeta, Zagreb, February 1981.