1. Michael Mariano was a Somali politician and businessman best remembered for leading a delegation to UN Headquarters in New York City and advocating for the return of the Somali inhabited Haud reserved area to Somali administration from the Ethiopian Empire.
Michael Mariano was born in Berbera, British Somaliland in 1914 into the Uduruxmiin sub-division of the Habr Je'lo Isaaq clan.
Michael Mariano soon lost his father at an early age.
Michael Mariano's mother moved to Aden and Mariano was raised as by a Catholic mission in Aden Colony.
Michael Mariano would go onto join the civil service in British Somaliland and form a men's political club in Burao by 1936.
Michael Mariano would emerge on the big stage after his successful business enterprise in Dire Dawa.
The National United Front was a division of the Somali National League that was specially tasked for this purpose and Michael Mariano a founding figure was nominated as vice president of the party.
Under the agreements, Michael Mariano stated, the British Government 'undertook never to cede, sell, mortgage or otherwise give for occupation, save to the British Government, any portion of the territory inhabited by them or being under their control'.
Michael Mariano was a strong campaigner for independence and he was a member of the British Somaliland Protectorate advisory committee which worked extensively to prepare Somaliland for independence from the United Kingdom.
Michael Mariano won a seat in Erigavo part of Burao District and served as MP in the Somali Parliament.
Michael Mariano himself held a radio program on Radio Mogadishu called 'Needs of the Somali People' and in 1962 gave advice regarding the situation of the NFD.
Michael Mariano was one of the leading figures in the intellectual war against Kenya while Shifta fighters fought the Kenyan military.
Michael Mariano held this post until the 1969 coup and was imprisoned alongside the rest of the government by the new President Siad Barre.
Michael Mariano was released with the rest of the cabinet minus Egal in 1974 and he would go on to become Ambassador to Zambia.