THE MASSACRE AT GALKACYO, MUDUG November 26, 1989
PRESS RELEASE

Nov,26. 2004 Radio Free Somali (RFS)

Memory Tribute to “Adeer Nur Ali Hussein Dua’ale*” and his family who were tortured and murdered in that massacre. May Allah give peace to all the victims.

It is 15 years ago today, on November 26, when more than 82 defenseless civilians, mainly women; children and elder men were systematically tortured and executed in the southern part of Galkacyo, Mudug. Consequently, the aggressors/transgressors conducted house to house searches, followed by the merciless destruction of properties by setting them on fire, pillaged belongings and at the end looted entire livestock (camels, goats and sheep). Within that week, 700 other civilians were also murdered in other towns of South Mudug.

The systematic torture and killing of civilians from the Sa’ad clan of the Habargidir were jointly carried out by “Darodissimo” alliance between the Majerteen led SOODAF (SSDF) and the commander, Col. Dhego Bacayr from the 21st division of the Somali Armed Force (a.k.a. DIGIF). The late president Siyad Barre gave specific order to SOODAF and DIGIF to “Systematically Exterminate the Sa’ad clan”.

The founder of SSDF (Soodaf) is Mr. Abdullahi Yusuf, elected president of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. The “Darodissimo” alliance of DIGIF and SOODAF used heavy weapons and machinery to attack the civilians before burning half of the city. The scars of that land raid are still visible in S-Galkacyo. Mr. Morgan, the notorious butcher of Hargeisa is still an active warlord of SOODAF, whom two months ago attacked civilians in the Lower Jubba.

The massacre at Galkacyo was part of widespread human rights abuse against civilians from opposing clans that voiced out their concerns regarding the structural violence and economic sanctions imposed against their communities by the former ruling dictatorship regime. Civilians in other cities were also killed in Mogadiscio followed by air raids and bombardments in several cities: Hargeisa and Burao.

The dictatorship regime claimed that the inhabitants of Mudug, Somaliland and Mogadiscio were joining liberation movements such as the Somali National Movement (SNM) and United Somali Congress (USC). This alliance used force and coercive measures to oppress, subdue, torture, rape and murder civilians in order to forbid them: “The Right for Association”.

The right to form political association is a fundamental human rights principle and the basic pillar for a democratic society that promotes diversity and participatory livelihood.

In that November week, people from the Sa’ad – Habargidir clan living in Southern Mudug region of Somalia were forcedly brought together, tortured and killed solely on the ground that they supported the USC struggle to ultimately liberate and overthrow the brutal dictatorship regime. Adeer Nuur Ali Hussein Dua’ale (aun) and members of his family were executed on November 26, 1989. The names of some other victims can be reviewed at:
http://www.mudug.com/link1.htm

As soon as a fully functioning government is restored and the national Justice systems are established within the Somali territory, the Somali Committee Against Impunity (SCAI):
will compile archived files of the crimes committed by members of SOODAF against defenseless civilians in bringing to TRIAL inside Somalia those responsible for the massacre at Galkacyo.
SCAI hopes through time to see an end to IMPUNITY in our country. Please join us in the struggle against IMPUNITY in your own community and in your own way.

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

By (the Token of) Time (through the ages)

Verily Man is in loss,

Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching
of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.

(Koran: 103 Surat Al-Asr)

Amina Abdi Mohamud
Director, SCAI
DonnaSomala@yahoo.com

* My grandmother was Faduma Hussein Dua’ale (aun)