By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Immunity Watch, Managing Editor

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Al-Shabab fighters have shot and killed Abdulahi Qayad Barre, a member of Somalia’s Parliament in Mogadishu. “Abdulahi Qayad Barre was shot dead, men killed him as he left his house to go to parliament,” fellow Member of Parliament Abdukarim Hajji announced on Monday. The killing is the latest in a string of assassinations of politicians in the war-torn nation of Somalia. At least five Members of Parliament were assassinated in 20014, Barre was the first to have been assassinated in 2015. The al-Shabab rebels, an al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist organization, are fighting to overthrow the country’s internationally-backed government. The fighters claim they are targeting members of the Somali Parliament because they allowed the deployment of foreign troops in Somalia through the African Union’s peacekeeping mission known as AMISOM. Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia have contributed troops to the region.

Somalia Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke during a ceremony in the capital Mogadishu, December 17, 2014 (Photo courtesy of Reuters)

“Shebab commandos shot and killed Barre, and all the so-called MPs are a legitimate target subject to be killed or captured, to face the justice of Allah,” al-Shabab spokesman Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abu Musab said. “This [is] the fate of all non-believers.” Al-Shabab’s recent attacks in Somalia have targeted key government and security facilities in an attempt to discredit claims by the government and by African Union troops that they are winning the war.

The assassination occurred amid heightened security as lawmakers gathered to vote on whether to approve a new cabinet, after parliament first rejected the new prime minister’s last list of candidates. Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke was named prime minister in December.

Somalia’s parliament approved the new cabinet on Monday despite the assassination. The approval is considered a pivotal step in preparing Somalia to vote on a new constipation and hold presidential elections in 2016. Western donors have put considerable pressure on the Somali government to adopt a new cabinet. “The new cabinet now has little time left to deliver against the priorities that the Somali government set out in Vision 2016 and that formed the basis for international support,” European Union envoys said in a joint statement.

The United States department of State welcomed the announcement from the Somali government. “The United States welcomes the February 9 parliamentary confirmation of Somalia’s Council of Ministers. As the new Council of Ministers assumes office, we urge the Federal Government of Somalia to make swift progress in the important work that remains to realize its Vision 2016, including a constitutional referendum and national elections, a state department statement said. “Somalia’s progress toward realizing the peacebuilding, governance, and security goals is of critical importance to the people of Somalia and the broader region. The United States is committed to supporting the government and people of Somalia. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with the Somali Government and people as they work to stabilize and rebuild their country.”

For more information please see:

United States Department Of State – Confirmation of New Somalia Council of Ministers – 10 February 2015
Al Jazeera – Somalia Lawmaker Shot Dead in Mogadishu – 9 February 2015
Reuters – Al Shabaab Militants Kill Another Somali Lawmaker in Mogadishu – 9 February 2015
Reuters – Somali Parliament Approves Cabinet after Weeks of Wrangling – 9 February 2015

 

Author: Impunity Watch Archive