Chimera Posted June 3, 2013 Somalia's president says he "wants answers" from South Africa after the brutal murder of a Somali man in Port Elizabeth, Al Jazeera has learned. The Somali man, 25-year-old Abdi Nasir Mahmoud Good, was stoned to death on May 30 by a mob. The violence was captured on a mobile phone and shared on the internet. Sheik Mohammed, Somalia's president, called on his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma to "act immediately" to arrest those responsible. Kamal Gutale, chief of staff in the Somali presidency, told Al Jazeera on Monday: "The president has asked Mr Zuma and his foreign minister to look into the matter and investigate the brutal killing and violence." The murder is the latest in a number of attacks on Somali immigrants in South Africa. Police are investigating the death but no one has been arrested yet. Graphic footage The Somali presidency said the issue was raised on the sidelines of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Tokyo on Sunday, after the Somali community was hit by a series of attacks in South Africa the past week.The graphic footage shows the bare-chested Good lying in the middle of a street while a mob pelts him with rocks and boulders as pedestrians and vehicles pass by. Local media said Good was attacked while trying to protect his shop from looters. He was also stabbed in the violence. The Somali community in South Africa, which numbers a few hundred thousand, reacted with outrage. The Somali Association of South Africa (SASA) told Al Jazeera that at least five other Somalis have been injured and about 40 shops have been looted in the four pro vinces across the country. Government inaction "At the time, President Zuma was not aware of the incident and expressed surprise," Gutale said. The South African president promised to look into the matter, he said. But SASA said the South African government has repeatedly failed to act on this and previous attacks on foreigners. "This is not the first time; this is happening over and over again. The South African government is not taking action, the community is angry and every time this happens, nothing is ever done," said SASA spokesman Ismaeel Abdi Adan. The South African presidency was unavailable to comment. The African Centre for Migration and Society at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, said in a report released in 2012 that Somali-run businesses suffered disproportionately from crime, including attacks by competing South African traders.The South African government has repeatedly claimed that the violence were acts of criminality and not xenophobic in nature. In 2008, more than 50 foreign African nationals were killed in a spate of violence against foreign nationals across the country. - LINK Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xaaji Xunjuf Posted June 3, 2013 Good on the President, it should be clear that the Somali government should protect its nationals abroad by using their diplomatic missions in those countries. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chimera Posted June 3, 2013 PM calls for protection of Somalis in South Africa Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon has expressed concern over the safety of the Somali community in South Africa. In a letter to President Jacob Zuma, Mr Shirdon enumerated the woes that the Somali community in South Africa had to contend with. “I appeal to the Government of the Republic of South Africa, as a matter of urgency, to intervene and contain this unnecessary and unfortunate violence against Somali business communities to preserve peace and stability, thereby further strengthening and promoting brotherly relations between our two peoples and governments,” said the PM in his statement issued in Mogadishu. Mr Shirdon particularly reacted to the latest killing of Somali business people and looting of their properties. He also sent his condolences to the families of the Somalis who were killed during the recent violence in Diepsloot, Pretoria and Booysens Park, Port Elizabeth. “On the other hand, I also call for all the Somalis in South Africa to respect and adhere rigidly to the local laws and customs, work with the Somali Embassy in Pretoria, maintain calmness, knowing that my government will vigorously work with the South African Government to address these recurring problems,” said the PM. The hardship “Our thoughts are with those Somalis who have suffered at this time of sadness,” he added. Reports reaching Somalia indicated that African migrants in South Africa were viciously attacked, Somalis being among the worst affected. Following the end of apartheid in South Africa and the escalation of the civil war in Somalia, thousands of Somali nationals fled and settled in the former. However, many have been affected by xenophobia prevalent in South Africa. Somalia's Foreign Affairs and International Relations Permanent Secretary Abdisalam Haji Ahmed Liban Monday stated that his compatriots who fled the hardship in their country did not receive the hospitality they envisaged from South Africans. He expressed sadness about the stoning to death of a Somali man by a South African mob. “The Somali government will soon send a delegation to South Africa,” said Mr Liban. - LINK Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QansaxMeygaag Posted June 4, 2013 ^^ Long term solution; bring our boys and girls home. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
