Rural residents vow to take back their villages after al-Shabaab fire

Residents of Bulo Burde in Hiran region welcome African Union Mission in Somalia troops on March 14, 2014, a day after they forced al-Shabaab out of the town. [AU UN IST PHOTO / Ilyas A. Abukar]

By Fuad Ahmed
Saturday, November 29, 2014

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MOGADISHU — Displaced citizens from two villages recently torched by al-Shabaab say they refuse to bow down to the terror group and are planning to return to their homes after they were forced to flee last week.

Tensions began November 19th, when a small group of al-Shabaab fighters circulated in Hamirgab and Qabadaro villages and demanded residents hand over their livestock as tax payments, said traditional elder Aadan Farah, 62.

When residents refused to abide by the order, things turned violent, said Farah, who fled with his wife and four children along with other residents to the town of Bulo Burde, about 30 kilometres from Qabadaro.

"Residents were afraid because the fight between the al-Shabaab fighters and the residents who did not want to be robbed of their livestock caused the death of two al-Shabaab fighters," he told Sabahi.

"My family and I fled when we found out that a strong al-Shabaab force was heading back towards the village," he said, adding they were able to escape a day before the militants returned to burn down their homes.

"The only thing we fled with is our nine camels, which is all the livestock we owned," he said. "We currently live with relatives in the town of Bulo Burde, and will continue to live with them until the situation changes."

Farah said al-Shabaab's actions against the citizens were un-Islamic and urged security forces to help displaced families stand up to them.

Villagers were able to flee to safety with their livestock before al-Shabaab returned with reinforcements on November 22nd, Bulo Burde Mayor Osman Gedi Elmi told Sabahi, but they suffered extensive property damage as a result of the fire.

Most of the displaced families fled to remote areas with only a few reaching the city, he added.

Elmi acknowledged the regional administration was not able to count exactly how many people have been displaced by the attack or to accurately estimate the properties lost in the fire.

"We have not gone [to the villages] because al-Shabaab insurgents are still there," he said.

"The reality is that there are very few [regional] administrations in Somalia that have troops that are fully staffed and equipped," he said, adding the administration has asked the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to help remove al-Shabaab from the villages and surrounding areas. "We depend on help from AMISOM."

Livestock trader Hassan Ali, 37, of Hamirgab village, told Sabahi the villagers are making plans to oust al-Shabaab from their land and reclaim what is left of their homes.

"We are holding consultations with the district administration of Bulo Burde and we have forwarded our request to AMISOM troops to help us remove al-Shabaab from our land," he said. "There is nothing but war between us and al-Shabaab, and that is why they burned down our houses."

He said residents refuse to be scared off by al-Shabaab's destructive actions and intimidations and are ready to help liberate the areas of Hiran region which are still under the group's control.

Hiran regional administration spokesperson Hassan Mohamed Ibrahim Kafi said he welcomes the actions taken by the villagers and urged other residents who continue living under al-Shabaab's oppressive rule to revolt.

He said the regional administration is working with AMISOM and Somali forces to liberate all other areas under al-Shabaab, but citizens' help is crucial to reach that goal.

"As a government we will not desert [citizens] and we will be by their side, but they should fight back and follow the honourable footsteps of our country's founders," he told Sabahi, encouraging citizens to organise and fight al-Shabaab's oppression with the same commitment Somalis used against colonial powers.

Kafi also urged al-Shabaab fighters to relinquish their weapons and take advantage of the government's pardon.

"Anyone who understands that the actions of al-Shabaab are inhumane and merciless is welcome," he said.

Warsame Afrah contributed to this report from Mogadishu.

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