Hiiraan Online

This will reinforce the vital but threatened work of Somali human rights defenders (HRDs) and grant redress to victims of the acute crisis, primarily the civilian population.

The human rights situation in Somalia has shown little to no improvements in spite of the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops in January and the election of Mr Sharif as president. Human rights violations continue to be committed by all parties involved in a conflict that has brought about severe suffering for civilians.

Somali HRDs, particularly journalists, are among the few voices on the ground speaking out against these violations hoping to get the attention of the international community and ensure accountability.

For this, they continue to pay a high price: face harassment, intimidation, office closures, property vandalism, and continued risk of being victim of targeted killings. The killings of six journalists in Somalia this year alone, three of which were victims of targeted killing, presently makes Somalia the deadliest country in the world to be a journalist.

Ahmed Omar Hashi Tajir’s story is telling of this reality. Working for an independent radio station in Mogadishu, Shabelle Radio, Tajir has escaped two targeted attacks this year, one in which he was shot in the stomach and hand. This same attack cost the life of Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe, Tajir’s director at Shabelle Radio. Continued death threats and fearing for his life, Tajir has been forced into exile.

International repercussions

In spite of the efforts by defenders such as Tajir the international community has failed to give the human rights situation and the need for HR accountability priority it deserves.

International attention to Somalia has increased in recent months as the crisis is now perceived as fuelled by external forces and as having significant regional and even international repercussions. However, this attention has failed to be translated into concrete steps or measures.

There are no national, regional or international accountability mechanisms in place while diplomatic efforts to ensure accountability are only in their initial phases. And in spite of the increasing support to the TFG by the US government and others, TFG forces have not yet been held to account for their significant abuses.

The international community failure to tackle the country’s deeply entrenched culture of impunity has undermined the work and protection of defenders. It has lead to continued violence, weakened calls for an end to impunity and given free reign to those wanting to silence the scarce voices against ongoing violations: neither the killing of Tahlil Ahmed nor of Hirabe have yet been investigated.

In light of this reality, the Obama administration must show its commitment to lasting peace by placing human rights accountability as a priority in its engagement in Somalia.

Without immediate action, an increasing number of defenders such as Tajir will resort to self-censorship, go into hiding or flee Somalia fearing for their lives. With no regional or international permanent human rights presence and increasingly limited national presence on the ground, their absence will be greatly felt.

Hillary’s visit provides a unique occasion for the US administration to show both the TFG leadership and the broader national, regional and international community it is prepared to take the lead and take concrete steps.

Victims of crisis

Mrs Clinton should publicly support establishment of an international commission of inquiry into past and present violations in Somalia as a key step to ensuring more lasting accountability.

Also, the US should lobby for the setting-up of a more permanent international human rights presence in Somalia under the auspices of the UN High Commission for Human Rights.

These steps are essential to ensuring the voices of Somali activists are heard and their efforts to guarantee redress to victims of the crisis are not in vain. The meeting today will also be a test of whether current efforts by the US to show that Africa will not remain on the margins of its foreign policy are genuine and well directed.

Source:Standard.ke