Hiiraan Online
Saturday October 24, 2015
MOGADISHU (HOL)- The Al-Qaeda linked
militant group Somalia continues to use rape and forced marriage as a tool to
punish and assert dominance in areas under its control, said a new report by
the United Nations monitoring group.
Al-Shabab which still control large swathes
in south and central Somalia despite the loss of its key strongholds is waging
a deadly guerrilla war against the African Union forces and Somali government.
The new report alleged that Between January
and December 2014, 4,737 cases (50.9 per cent physical assault, 27.4 per cent
rape, 9.5 per cent sexual assault, 7.1 per cent denial of resources,
opportunities and service have been recorded.
The report has also added that 3.4 per cent
of the cases were psychological abuse and 1.7 per cent forced marriage). 84 per
cent of the survivors were IDPs.
“In Al-Shabaab-held areas there were a
range of violations documented by the Monitoring Group, including forced
marriage and a practice called ‘Dumaashhi’ involving the taking of new brides
by Al-Shabaab fighters, in particular in Lower and Middle Juba.” the report
said.
Al-Shabab hasn’t so far commented on the
report by the UN investigators.
The report has also accused AU forces of sexual
exploitations against Somali women in areas under its control.
“The report determined that only two of the
allegations were founded, including one case which had been investigated and
documented by the Monitoring Group in S/2014/726.” It said.
The report has also accused Somali
government of evicting Almost 100,000 IDPs who were pushed out of city
settlements.
“The victims of the rush to invest in
Somalia’s booming real estate sector, facilitated by an environment of
corruption and unregulated land speculation.” It said.
The
use of force in some of these eviction operations resulted in death, injury and
demolition of homes, generating additional violations of the mandate.
“In two days in early March 2015, for
example, security personnel forcibly evicted over 21,000 IDPs from the Maslax
and Aslubta areas of Kahda district, beating many, destroying shelters and
preventing the collection of personal belongings.” It said.