The statue of the emperor Ismoili Somoni stands tall as the focal point of downtown Dushanbe. Erected in 1999 in the wake of communist rule and civil war, the statue represents an attempt for the Tajik people to recover their identity, unity, and history. Tajik history is a story of division and subjugation. The Somonian Dynasty of 1100 years ago is the last time in history that the Tajiks were unified as one people under one ruler. Conquered by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC, by the Arabs in the 7th century, and later on by the Turks and Mongols, the Tajik people have constantly been divided and conquered throughout history. The culmination of this pattern was when under Soviet rule the historical and cultural gems? the cities of Bukhara and Samarkand? were placed in the Republic of Uzbekistan in order to divide the Tajiks and undermine any threat of ethnically-based nationalism.

Independence brought inner-divisions to the forefront in a five-year civil war. A peace accord in 1997 brought a conclusion to the fighting, but the divisions still remained. However, despite the difficulties, Tajikistan is using the years of peace to slowly rebuild its economy and infrastructure.  Many obstacles yet remain, but with help from their global neighbors, Tajikistan is moving forward.