Sheeko

Pro-government militia executing civilians, says HRW

I was worried about this sort of mindless killing and I shared my thoughts with close friends few weeks ago. My fear was based on knowing the ways of the Somali militias: committing atrocities is part of their drill, their bread and butter. It’s a ‘tradition’, a necessary exercise for these militias to kill, rape and injure those they oppose and innocent people too. 

That’s what sustained 21 years of civil war in Somalia. The cycle has not been broken yet: not a single victor had declared amnesty for the opponent. Alshabab did the same when they took Hiiraan.

From the report:

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for a suicide bus bombing on January 24 that damaged a government building taken over by the Ethiopian military. In the ensuing hours, Ethiopian troops and allied militias arrested a number of people, including a teacher in Beletweyne, Abdirahman Muhumed-Nur Abdulle, known as “Matan.” Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that Matan was seized from his home during house searches by the SVS militia, beaten, and then taken away. His body was found in a river several hours later after a member of the SVS administration told Matan’s relatives where to find it.