The district of Waaberi is  known as  the the most dangerous place to live in Mogadishu, far more dangerous than Suuqa Xoolaha ( The Livestock Market ). Al Shabaab operatives,  mostly young men,  roaming in the streets of the district  by groups of three or four  men and armed with handguns target their victims  and kill them with impunity. Since Al Shabaab declared a war on members of Somalia’s parliament and elders who ratified the draft constitution  Al Shabaab  assassins killed a member of parliament, and  an elder. The group also declared a war on journalists, poets, playwrights, singers and comedian.s

Both Abdi Jeylaani Malaaq ( Marshaale) and Warsame shire Awale, a comedian and poet  respectively, were killed in Waaberi district. Waaberi is near the Somalia Parliament  premises  formerly Guriga Umadda. As one MP who wants to remain anonymous  told Raxanreeb, “ Only big shots- ministers, the prime minister, the president, the parliamentary speaker and  top commanders can afford a round-the clock- security arrangement”.

Waaberi is strategically close to Somali presidency, Villa Somalia, radio Mogadishu, Police HQ and the  national theatre. And that is why elders, MPs and traditional elders chose to live there but Al Shabaab  has recalibrated its strategy to concentrate  on Waaberi, which unlike Howl-wadaag,  did not attract attention of business people because it is far from Bakaare Market,  Waaberi was  not a contested spot for warlord  militias who ruled Mogadishu until 2006. Al Shabaab  assassins  do not randomly attack their targets. They plan, Identify the target and coordinate the  assassination.

The Somali government police forces arrested many Al Shabaab operatives buy  they have been   released into the Mogadishu after elders intervened. This is seen as evidence that the government forces do, not  explore acting on solid intelligence  gathered from  Al Shabaab  suspects interviewed by the security forces  due to lack of information-sharing  between the plain-clothes security forces and Mogadishu police. The police  is in charge  of securing peace whereas security forces gather information about Al Shabaab. In peace time security forces’ target was  unarmed opposition   members and suspected saboteurs but in a war time  their task is more arduous than it was before 1991.  “This why Mogadishu  security and police forces need to put their heads together to devise security measures aimed at making people in Mogadishu feel safer,” said  a Mogadishu-based Raxanreeb analyst.

Source: Raxanreeb

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