By Faisal A. Roble
Not long ago, I learned that Ali Abdi Wardheere, a friend and a man I have known until recently only as Ali Yare, or Ali the junior, was arrested and questioned by the CID in Mogadishu. Upon hearing such a bad news, I instantly had a memory jog back to the early 1972. As a young boy growing up in a revolutionary period at the time, one of my reading materials, among other things, included Angela Davis’ IF THEY COME IN THE MORNING: VOICES Of RESISTANCE. Since then, I always imagine how frightening it could be when “they,” the security that is, come and get someone I know.
Although thousands of miles away from Mogadishu, I can imagine how fearful and intimidating it was for Ali Yare when they finally came and got him. In my life time, my own father, friends and colleagues in the Horn of Africa have all been victims of injustice. Worse, interrogating someone like Ali Yare in dark dungeons similar to the cells I had read about Angela Davis’ Soledad Brothers’ cells, or the Alambakay (or “end of life”) where my late father spent 7 of his last years in life, must be depressingly fearful to Ali Yare and to his loved ones.
Here is the timeline for an orchestrated harassment and intimidation:
On May 25, 2015, Ali was first picked up and questioned by Security forces. Initially accused of criticizing the government, he was kept incommunicado for hours; the arresting authorities denied him the liberty to call an attorney, his family or friends. After being subjected to systemic intimidation, he was handed sinister, damaging, and false charges. Only told verbally, his alleged charges included “his support for piracy, terrorism and treason.” Ali Yare a terrorist!! HMMM!
On May 28, 2015, a high ranking officer who is travelling with President Hassan apparently ordered security forces in Mogadishu from afar once again that Ali be “called to attend the CID investigation unit in Villa Somalia in a close proximity to the office of the President.” After intensive questioning, the purpose of which was to break and wreak psychological damages on him, Ali was released without any explanations.
On June 1st, he was on his way to Cadaado to participate in the ongoing consultation on the establishment of a regional administration for the central regions. Once Villa Somalia found out his travel itineraries, was denied the freedom to fly and participate in the Cadaado convention.
Although temporarily free, this citizen is not yet out of the woods; his fear for his life and wellbeing is legitimate. Meanwhile, his political activities are severely curtailed. That is simply wrong!
The hardship imposed on Ali Yare and his family violates Article 18 (Freedom of Expression) and Article 22 (Right of Political Participation). Most importantly, this unprecedented arrest of this peaceful citizen for no other reason except for his political beliefs represents a gross violation of Article 35 (The right of the accused, section 2 which calls for “everybody arrested or detained has the right to be informed promptly for their arrest or detention…”). His arbitrary arrest and intimidation are also in total contravention of Article 2 of the 1948 Declaration of Human Rights.
If what had been imposed on Ali Yare is a precursor to what is in store for political activists at this juncture in the history of the country, it is all the more troubling. To be more precise, in light of the expected 2016 elections, such an arbitrary arrest and intimidation of a mainstream political activist could be foretelling of messier days ahead. Villa Somalia’s venom has yet to be unleashed against all activists.
Ali Yare is important to me for reasons that are both political and personal. A resident of Mogadishu, he is currently a member of the TAYO party. As a gifted grassroots organizer and someone who is skilled in networking with diverse groups, his political resume is vastly rich. During the 2012 presidential election, when the sitting president was elected by a house of clan elders, Ali was one of the more visible campaign managers for the former Prime Minister, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, who was also seeking the same office. Although his boss lost the election, Ali right away went back organizing for a sustainable political reform in and around Mogadishu.
Most recently, he was a senior advisor to Prime Minister Farah Shirdon Saacid on social affairs. Ironically, Villa Somali is shamelessly accusing an important aid to a former PM on charges of treason. Call that a charge straight from the political dictionary of authoritarian rulers.
A personal note:
Ali is a gregarious story teller with a large social network. Without ever crossing the line, he is an informative and reliable blogger who often keeps keen eye on the deficiencies of the current administration. Is that enough of a reason to deprive a citizen such as Ali yare of his inalienable rights conferred to him by the living document of the Somali Federal Constitution as well as by International instruments?
I first met Ali Yare in October, 2014 during the Addis Ababa Conference on Somali federalism. After a brief introduction by a mutual friend, Ali welcomed me to a network of political activists who work and reside in Mogadishu. I was particularly hungry to see folks from Mogadishu who were ready to at least have cross clan conversation and promote a pan-Somali mutual agenda. I always thank him for the gesture and effort to pull together such a crowd of Somalis of different hues.
In 1972, when the FBI came one morning and got Angela Davis many thought she will be silenced. Alas, instead an entire generation was revolutionized to the chagrin of her nemesis. If they come back and take Ali Yare once again, it could perhaps galvanize a new generation of revolutionaries and political leaders inside and outside Mogadishu to confront Villa Somalia.
As his friend and a compatriot who values individual rights, I ask Villa Somalia to let Ali go and stop trying to silence him.
Faisal A. Roble
WardheerNews contributor
Email: [email protected]
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Faisal Roble is a writer, political analyst and a former Editor-in-Chief of WardheerNews, mainly interested in the Horn of Africa region. He is currently the Principle Planner for the City of Los Angeles in charge of Master Planning, Economic Development and Project Implementation Division.
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