by Muuse Yuusuf
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Local journalist Abdulkadir Ali, is assisted after the explosion in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009 - . (AP Photo/Mohamed Sheikh Nor) |
Suicide bombing by young Somalis is a frightening phenomenon that has instilled fear and anxiety in the hearts of many ordinary Somalis, who are now being left confused because suicide bombings has never been part of their culture. So far 12 suicide bombings had been carried out by young Somalis, the latest being the veiled suicide bomber which killed three government ministers, students and others. Also, the international community, particularly the US, which hosts a large Somali community, is concerned about the new trend. In fact some of the suicide bombers were Somali-Americans who lived in the USA.
So in order to understand and make sense of this new phenomenon, please allow to share with you profiles of would-be Somali-suicide bombers that I have collected from open sources.
Profile one: is a teenager of 10-17 year old. This means he was born and brought up during the civil war. He finished his Quranic school studies but has never received formal education. He is an orphan, or from a broken and not well educated family. His father is illiterate and lives in the countryside. The boy managed to move to a city where he became a street boy and a rough sleeper. Also, he was once a child soldier, and worked for and was used by a warlord. The boy witnessed people being killed; he himself might be a murderer.
This unhappy young chap ended up meeting a family that was prepared to adopt to help him out. The head of the family was an extremist cleric who was involved in armed religious groups in Somalia such as Al-shabaab. Immediately, the boy was invited to join the family and was treated and trusted as a member of the family. He was enrolled in madrasa religious school which teaches basic Islamic education mainly faith-related issues. His young mind was indoctrinated with extreme Jihadist ideology, something that even grown ups with knowledge, intellect and training find very hard to understand or comprehend it. To put it simply, the boy was groomed to be a suicide bomber. He blew him up in a town i n Somalia, killing 20 odd Somali Muslims.
Profile two: is a young man of 17-25 year old. He was born in Somalia during the civil war. He witnessed atrocities committed during the war, something that should not have been exposed to a child’s mind. He did not have a happy childhood in Somalia. However, this sad young man was lucky to have been granted political asylum to join his mother in a western country. His father was killed in the civil war. With all her good intentions, his mother enrolled him in formal schools up to a university level. Unfortunately he dropped out maybe because of bullying, and he was at the edge of becoming a drug addict. His mother could not help but watch her son go off the rails as an outcast.
This unlucky young man was given a helping hand by a family that has similar characteristics of the family who adopted and groomed the above-mentioned suicide bomber. He joined madras to learn basic Islamic teaching. According to teachings he was promised of a good life in this world and after life, He felt rescued from his failures and troubles. He was immediately brainwashed with extreme ideologies that made him believe Osman Bin Laden as his hero. There is also a strong indication that he was financially induced to undertake the mission. The young man was made to hate the here and now-life, and he started to long for martyrdom and life in paradise.
After just a year of religious orientation, he was sent off to Somalia, where he executed one of the bloodiest and deadliest attacks in the country. He killed a lot of innocent Somali Muslims.
Profile 3: is a young man of 20 years old. He was brought up by his family and lived with them. He has had a happy childhood and was from a strong and well educated family. He grew up surrounded by his family’s love and support. He finished his Quranic and formal education up to high school. However, because of his family’s hatred of a foreign invasion (Ethiopia) and the humiliation they caused to their country, dignity and national pride, they decided to scarify their son to defend his country and religion. Without brainwash, manipulation and other inducement, son accepted his parents’ decision, and he blew him up and killed invaders and infidels.
The last profile is probably a rarity among many because suicide bombing is not part of the Somali culture. It is a phenomenon produced by extremism and political Islam. It is an act of desperation by terrorists, and therefore should not be allowed to derail the Djibouti peace and reconciliation process.
Muuse Yuusuf
E-mail: [email protected]
List of suicide bombings carried out in Somalia:
1) June 2009 suicide bomber kills 20 in Beletweyne, including security minister, June 2009
2) 2 Suicide bomber from Ealing (London), 21 year old business school drop out (October 2007) in Baidao
3) Shirwa Ahmed, suicide member from Minnesota Oct. 29, 2008, kills 20 in Hargeisa
4) Suicide bomber attacks Bosaaso Oct, 2008
5) Suicide bombers fail to assassinate Abdullahi Yusuf, Baidao 2006
6) Suicide bomber kills 7 near Somali PM's home, Mogadishu Jun 4 2007
7) Suicide bomber kills 7 guards on Monday 25th May, 2009, Mogadishu
8) National University, in Mogadishu, 22/02/09 against AMISOM, 6 soldiers killed
9) Suicide bomb against Ethiopian troops in Mogadishu, 26/03/2007 by Adam Salad Adam
10) Suicide bomb against AMISOM soldiers, Mogadishu, 24/01/2009, 13 civilians and security personnel killed
11) Suicide car bombers killed deputy commander of AMISOM, Mogadishu. Sept. 2009.
12) Suicide bomber kills 3 TFG ministers and others in university graduation ceremony 3/12/09, Mogadishu.