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| SOMALIA: Attack on graduation ceremony the "last straw" |
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| News - Editorial | ||
| Thursday, 10 December 2009 13:40 | ||
The population will see the bombing "as senseless killings, which is what terrorists do", she said, adding that Al-Shabab members were no longer seen as "uniting Somali nationalism and Islam". Shattered hopes Hawa Siyaad, a mother of six, left her small-scale fuel business on 3 December to attend the graduation ceremony with her eldest son. "I was happy to participate, because I knew Mohamed [her son] will be going through the same next year," she said. "Mohamed was in his fifth year of medical school, he was there to help with the ceremony. One minute, he was there, the next minute he was gone. He did not do anything wrong. Why would anyone kill innocent students?" She said those behind the killings were "people who do not want to see anything good in Somalia; that day they shattered many dreams and hopes, including mine". "Occupiers" Al-Shabab recently captured several strategic towns near Mogadishu and is in control of most of southern Somalia up to the Kenyan border. "In my opinion they are seen as occupiers in almost all areas they control, and the attack on Thursday [3 December] will only add to their isolation," said one observer. "I think the demonstration was a clear signal to them that people have had enough of their violence and will not tolerate it any more." He said it was not clear whether the current anti-Al-Shabab feelings marked "the beginning of the end for them or just a small hiccup", adding, however, "if I was them [Al-Shabab] I would really be worried". The government now needs to organize and take the group on militarily, he said. "The people seem to be ready; it is now up to the government to show leadership and take the initiative." Al-Shabab is a militant Islamist group that was part of the Union of Islamic Courts and gained prominence during the Ethiopian military presence between 2006 and early 2008. The prolonged conflict in the country has displaced more than 1.5 million people, while another 3.6 million need assistance. Source: IRIN News  Share this article with others:      The comment section is restricted to members only. |
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