May 6, 2010
 
The ongoing conflict between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces and the opposition groups has caused heavy casualties and the displacement of thousands of civilians mainly women, children and the elderly. The government forces with the support from African Union Troops (AMISOM) on one side and the Al-Shabaab and Hizbu-Islam extremist forces on the other have shown little restraint for the safety of civilians.

The AMISOM forces are also accused of shelling civilian areas indiscriminately resulting in heavy civilian casualties and huge destruction of property. The opposition extremist groups are responsible for the civilian casualties by staging their rocket attacks from residential areas. Officials from the main Mogadishu hospitals confirmed that hundreds of people caught up in the crossfire were admitted to two hospitals for injuries sustained during the recent conflict. In addition, the extremist groups are targeting innocent civilians viciously. Recently, five laborers who were helping with the reconstruction of the Somali parliament were brutally murdered by Al- Shabab. Somali Cause strongly denounces these senseless assassinations.

The death toll from the violence on Monday, April 12, 2010 rose to at least 26 with scores wounded, according to Rights Groups. The U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Mark Bowden said “these are clear violations of the laws of war,” committed by all parties in the conflict

More recently, the explosion on May 1, 2010 at the Abdalla Shideye Mosque in Mogadishu’s Bakara market killed 45 people and injured close to hundred. This brutal and merciless attack on people who have gone to a place of worship to pray has no place in our culture and is in direct contrast to Islamic values and beliefs. Such barbaric attacks against civilians in sacred places demonstrate how innocent civilians cannot even take sanctuary in a Mosque. Somali Cause Joins the SRSG, Arab League and African Union in strongly condemning these barbaric attacks against civilians in a Mosque.

Somali Cause is deeply concerned and urges:

• The TFG and the opposition groups to end hostilities, ensure the safety of the civilians, especially women, children and the elderly, and resolve their differences through dialogue.

• The humanitarian organizations to help the internally displaced people who continue to shoulder the greatest burden in this conflict.

• The Somali Diaspora communities to engage constructively and help end the suffering of the Somali people in Somalia.
Abdirizak Mohamed
Somali Cause Chair
info@somalicause.org
 
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Somali Cause is an umbrella of seven Somali organizations in the USA and Canada that united to: (a) Educate the world about the plight of the Somali people, (b) Provide humanitarian assistance to the suffering people of Somalia, (c) Provide an alternative to the clan and regional based politics, and (e) Safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.