Mogadishu’s women fearful of rape, weary of uniforms
Mogadishu, (SDN) –Several women living in Mogadishu have accused soldiers in Somalia’s transitional federal government of rape. There is skepticism among the victims about what can be done to address this issue.
A woman who identified herself as Farhiyo living in the neighbourhood of Kaaraan in the Banaadir region which was recently taken back from Al-Shabaab control by the government told our website that she has lived there for some time with her husband and family, she recounted her story saying she was attacked in front of her home by several armed men who tried to rape her, when she fought back they beat her with their rifles.
Several mothers in the city of Mogadishu also say their daughters were raped by men dressed in the uniform of the government`s army. According to the mother of one of the girls, her daughter is still suffering from shock.
“A few nights ago we were attacked in a house in the Nasteeho neighbourhood by soldiers, the men in the house were held at gunpoint and all the women in the house were taken into a room and raped, they didn’t care if the women were old, young, or even children. May God protect us, only He can protect us” said an elderly woman who lives in the Nasteeho neighbourhood of Wadajir in the region of Banaadir
The transitional federal government has not investigated these cases which identify the perpetrators as men wearing transitional federal government soldier uniforms. The rapes and other incidents affecting civilians have not been investigated by the government which is preoccupied with its war against Al-Shabaab and the ratification of the new constitution; meanwhile the constituents whom the rule of law is meant to protect remain vulnerable.
SDN-Mogadishu