Blast At Mogadishu Medical College Emphasizes The Need For Political Stability

Dec. 7, 2009 - PRLog -- Save Somalia, an initiative of Somalia American Community Association, Somali Americans, and Friends of Somalia strongly condemns the suicide bombing on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at Benadir University’s graduation ceremony in Mogadishu, Somalia.  four ministers, 20 students, and three journalists were among the dead and about 40 people were wounded.

Spokesman for the President, Hassan Halie, believed that al-Shabaab had a hand in the bombing at Shamo Hotel.  Al-Shabaab is a homegrown insurgent group who initially fought against the occupation of Ethiopian military forces and former Transitional National Government (TFG), and now is battling the current TFG and the African Union troops.  Al-Shabaab, who has been alleged to have links to al Qaeda, is on the US Department of State’s list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.  Promptly following the events, al-Shabaab issued a statement that they had no involvement in the explosion.  No group has taken responsibility for the events.

Information Minister, Dahir Mahoud Gelle, told reporters that the bomber had been a male dressed as a female “complete with a veil and female’s shoes.”
Mohammed Ali Nur, Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya, issued a public statement:

"What we understand is that someone blew himself up at the ceremony and the attack aimed to target government officials.  We appeal to the international community to help our country in this time of need."

The victims were mostly graduating students from Benadir University, the only higher educational institution to produce medical doctors in Mogadishu.  The three ministers were Qamar Aden Ali, Health Minister; Ahmed Abdulahi Waayeel, Education Minister; and Ibrahim Hassan Addow, Higher Education Minister.

Due to uncontrolled violence in the capital and surrounding areas, Save Somalia is calling on the people of the Somali Republic, international community, and the United States Congress to support:

the protection of civilians
an unconditional ceasefire
peace and good governance
unrestricted humanitarian access to refugees and internally displaced populations

For more information, please contact Ahmed Elmi, M.P.H., Executive Director, Save Somalia: Humanitarian and Refugee Awareness Campaign at 202.415.0327 or at chairman@sacausa.org.

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Save Somalia: Humanitarian and Refugee Awareness Campaign is an initiative of the Friends of Somalia and Somali Americans through Somalia American Community Association. The campaign started July 2009, the month that also commemorates the Save Somalia: Humanitarian and Refugee Awareness Month.

The mission of the campaign is to be the voice for the millions of Somalis who are experiencing the worst humanitarian and refugee crisis in the world (UN, 2009) in an effort to save lives and alleviate needless suffering. Our goal is to educate the public, engage the U.S. Congress, establish student clubs, and partner with key institutions to appeal for help.