Second Traditional Elder Slain in Baladweyne in Two Days
A traditional elder by the name Hassan Adan Deqow has been killed in Baladweyne last on Tuesday’s night, making the second elder to be killed in two days.
On 20th of June another elder Mumin Barre was killed by gunmen who later fled the scene.
There are no apparent motives behind the killings of the traditional elders who are the backbone of the Somali society.
According to Somali customary laws, elders are among those protected in these laws even when captured in the battle field, but during latter years of civil war which ushered the country into ideological war, elders were not spared.
Here in Baladweyn, things don’t look good, authorities talk of a hit list for elders by militants who saw them as a strong voice against their agendas. Some elders are even forced to flee the city to Mogadishu and elsewhere.
Some sought the protection of African peacekeeping troops based in Baladweyne.
Goobjoog News