PRESS RELEASE 99/22 – 17 June 1999
Massacres in the City of Kismayo
MASSACRE OF UNARMED CIVILIANS IN GOBWEIN NEAR KISMAYO
An eye witness account of Massacre in Kismayo in Dec 199
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Massacres in the City of Kismayo
Somalia Watch Organization highlights the tragic situation of the innocent civilian population in this Somali coastal city which was overrun on the 11th June by Somali armed groups supported by Eritrea and OROMO fighters. Large scale massacres of innocent civilians, looting and population cleansing activities are going on in the city right now. This city had many times in the past experienced terrible massacres in the hands of some of the criminal elements that captured the city on the 11th Jun 99.
We attach hereto 2 accounts of the massacres perpetrated by the same criminals in the city now; one massacre was in Dec 1992 and the other, reported by Somalia Watch, was in Jan 1999. Somalia Watch appeals to Amnesty International, International Red Cross and Crescent Organizations, other humanitarian organizations and peace-loving nations to come to the help of this distressed civilian population.
Somalia Watch Organization is keeping records of the criminal activities committed against the innocent civilians in the city and shall hold the perpetrators responsible for their actions.
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Attach 1
MASSACRE OF UNARMED CIVILIANS IN GOBWEIN NEAR KISMAYO
“With great sadness we would like to inform your and the International communities that on 16th January,1999 at 1700 hours innocent unarmed civilians among them a child and an elderly have been massacred in the village of Gobwein about 15 km North of kismayo. This cruel acts have been perpetrated by the SNF forces of General Ahmed Warsame and USC militias allied with him.
The names of the victims are as follows:
1. Dr Cadirisaaq Xersi Dheere 55 yrs 2. Dr. Cabdirahmaan Maxamed Ciise 43 yrs 3.
Nabadoon Yusuf Xasan Baadari 80 yrs 4. Mr. Cabdinuur Muuse 33 yrs 5. Mr. Axmed Xiireey Kulan 20 yrs 6.
Mr Sanweyne Saalax Gamuure 30 yrs 7. Mr.Cabdirisaaq Jiis Jumbur 11 yrs 8. Mr.Maxamud Macalin 45 yrs 9.
Mr.Jaamac Mahdi 40 yrs
Ahmed Askar 32 yrs was among three wounded who survived the massacre and is present at the moment in Kismayo. We hereby condemn SNF and USC forces for these crimes against humanity. There are about 50 POWs from SNF and USC militias held in Kismayo which are treated according to Internationally recognized norms.
We appeal to the International organizations specially the Red Cross and other human rights organizations to check and investigate these acts of massacre and also check the condition of the POWs in Kismayo.
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Attach 2
An eye witness account of Massacre in Kismayo in Dec 1992
This is the story of Abdisaid Ali.
” …Let me remind you where I was one terrible night in Kismayu. In December 1992, I was at the home of Dr. Mohamed Dahir Nur. We were there with his two daughters, one was eleven, the other sixteen.
Therewas gunfire all over the city. We could hear gunfire everywhere. We did not know that Jess’ soldiers would come looking for us but they did ( us any other Majerteen in the city).
Mohamed’s home had an outhouse-type lavatory. I was in the lavatory when Jess’ soldiers burst into the compound, firing their weapons. The soldiers captured Dr. Mohamed and tied him up.
They insulted him and beat him. A short time after they arrived, Jess himself arrived. I recognized him.
I saw him with my own eyes. Dr. Mohamed’s daughters were crying and screaming. Jess went over to where Dr. Mohamed was lying on the ground and told the soldiers to kill him.
They let out a burst of gunfire. Then the soldiers grabbed Dr. Mohamed’s older daughter and gang-raped her. The whole time I was frozen in terror and shock from what I was witnessing.
These are some of the people they massacred that night:
1.
Abdikarim Ahmed (Lawyer) 2. Chief Dhuh Ahmed Salah 3. Mr. Abdi Ahmed Salah (businessman, brother to number 2) 4.
Dr. Sugulle Ahmed Mohamed (Economist) 5. Mr. Mohamed Olad Isse Karshe (businessman) 6. Mr. Yusuf Dahir Ali 7.
Mr. Farah Ahmed Saleh 8. Chief Abdi Yusuf Dhuh alias Maneno 9. Mr. Ahmed Abdullahi Mire 10.
Mr. Ali Omar Osman 11. Mohamed Abdirizak Hersi 12. Dr. Mohamed Dahir Nur alias Lugey..(I was there) 13.
Mr. Jama Ader 14. Ugas Hashi Farah Ambar alias Daqarre 15. Mr. Ali Warabe Garon 16.
Mr. Mohamud Ahmed Asayr alias Ga’ir 17. Mr. Hassan Dahir Ali Gaban 18. Mr. Mohamud Farah Osman (Tetano) 19.
Dr. Mohamud Musse Sugulle 20. Mr. Ainab Mohamud Said 21. Farah Aden Hassan 22.
Abdillahi Isse 23. Mr. Abdullahi Tunniyow 24. Mr. Yusuf Hundhur 25.
Dr. Mohamud Mohamed Abdi 26. Ms. Faduma Musse Sugulle 27. Ms. Ruqiya Musse sugulle (Sister of number 26) 28.
Mr. Abdullahi Isse Samatar 29. Son of number 28 30. Mr. Abdullahi Said Samatar 31.
Son of number 30 32. Chief Abdillahi Haji Yusuf alias Gurie (nephew to former Obbia King) 33. Mr. Abdi Hassan Farah 34.
Hassan Farah Samantar 35. Mr. Abdi Garas Haji 36. Mr. M. Aden 37.
Dr. Abdullahi Sheekh Ali alias Gobbe ( Vice president Somali Institute for Development and Administration) 38. Haji Mire Yusuf Musse (businessman) 39. Chief Haji Ibrahim Garabyare 40.
Prof. Abdullahi Abdi Warfa 41. Dr. Abdulkadir Abshir Mohamed 42. Mr. Mohamed Musse Jama alias Madome 43.
Mr. Mohamed Ismail Ali 44. Mr. Said Mohamud Abdalle alias Nin-ku-toos 45. Mr. Moallin Awil Mohamed Yusuf 46.
Haji Isse Khaire Ali 47. Sheekh Said Mohamed Mohamud Siqe 48. Abdullahi Ali Abdulle 49.
Abdi Mohamud Mohamed alias Gobbe 50. Mr. Mohamed Aden Warsame 51. Ms. Asha Bihi 52.
Daughter of number 51 ( four years old) 53. Mr. Mohamed Farah 54. Mr. Jama Farah Barre alias Shan-Lire 55.
Mr. Mohamed Hersi Rug 56. Mr. Sugulle Hashi Nur 57. Mr. Abdirashid Abdullahi Said 58.
Mr. Yusuf Ali Salah 59. Mr. Mohamed Aw Farah 60. Ms. Anab Olad Jama 61.
Mr. Ali Ispettore 62. Mr. Mohamed Dahir Agei 63. Mr. Ali Farah Dabagoye 64.
Mr. Abdi Gelle Koreie (90 years old—-yes Ninety years old!!!) 65. Ms. Ahada Dirie Mohamed 66. Mr. Ahmed Aisane 67.
Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Warsame alias Olyo 68. Mr. Yusuf Gure 69. Mr. Yusuf Omar Hassan 70.
Mr. Ainab Shire 71. Mr. Mohamud Olow Osman 72. Mr. Mohamed Hassan Mohamud 73.
Mr. Mohamed Osman Omar 74. Mr. Jama Omar Alin 75. Mr. Mohamed Aden Farah 76.
Mr. Ali Sheekh Farah 77. Mumin Ali Hersi (4 years old !) 78. Farah Hashi Omar ( 2 years old!) 79.
Mother of number 78 81. Mr. Mohamed Farah Dhurwa 82. Ms. Basra Ali Hashi 83.
Mr. Bashir Ali Gure 84. Mr. Mohamed Addow 85. Mr. Shu’aib Ali Isse-Yare 86.
Dr. Mohamud Mohamed Abdirahman 87. Mr. Ali-Gurei Aden 88. Ms. Amina Hussein Farah 89.
Chief Haji Ali Mumin Geddi 90. Mr. Abdullahi Haji Ali Abokar 91. Sultan Abdirahman Musse Shire-Farei (brother of the chief of Rer Mohamud-Majerteen) 92.
Sheekh Mohamud Mohamed 93. Mr. Bashir Ahmed 94. Mr. Mohamed Dahir (school-teacher) 95.
Major Abdulkadir Aftoje 96. Son of Bashir Qoslaye 97. member of the family of number 96 98. Mr. Mohamed Said Garweine 99.
Mr. Isse Afqalloc 100. Raage 101. Col. Mohamed Mohamud Yusuf alias Labo-Tinle 102.
Dr. Mohamed Said Mohamed alias Dhalawa-former director Kismayu Port 103. Mr. Mohamud Salah Mohamed alias Dhere 104. Chief Mohamed Yusuf Mohamed alias Nero 105.
Mr. Musse Afjar 106. Mr. Ali Osman alias Shabelow 107. Mr. Mohamed Jama Aw Mohamed alias Ato (businessman) 108.
Mr. Ismael Mohamed Salah alias Qable 109. Mr. Hurdale 110. Ms. Asli Yusuf Mohamed alias Qalow-Qalow
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Today history is repeating itself in Kismayu, The city is captured by the same people with more vicious war criminals like Gen. Ahmed Warsame, and Col. Barre Hirale, and both have records of murdering, raping and looting civilians.
More than two hundred thousand Kismayu citizens are being held hostage by them.” end of story.
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