SOMALILAND: Arsonists terrorise terrified residents in Hargeisa

Qalinle Hussein

HARGEISA — Police in Hargeisa are trying to solve a very rare case in the country where arsonists caused close to 30 fires in the past two weeks, leaving officials perplexed as to who was causing them and why.

The attacks first broke out mid this month in the Ga’an Libah neighborhood where 25 homes in New Hargeisa suburb were completely destroyed or damaged. It is now reported, the arsonists are targeting new areas around the city.

On Tuesday, the state police arrested four suspects in New Hargeisa but until now they have failed to establish any sufficient evidence linking the four teenagers to the crimes. After the arrests, the police were confident they had cracked the case and officials moved quickly to reassure the public that the arsonists were taken off the streets.

Residents protest against Interior Minister's words (Ismail Farjar/VOA)

Using the airwaves, the Interior minister Dr Abdi Mohamed Gabose tried to calm the public and confirm his department was closing in on the attackers while speaking to VOA Somali-Services radio station.

“In total 19 properties were targeted, two consisted of bricks, no serious damages were inflected. The remaining 17 were all huts made of plastics and papers except two that were iron sheet materials,” Dr Gabose said.

He denied reports that the arsonists were using chemicals and paint products to vandalize solid constructions such as bricks.

“When we collected materials that had been thrown into properties I can assure you that there won’t any chemicals other than gasoline and petroleum products,” he said. He also added the attacks were only occurring in Ga’an Libah and has not spread.

Hours after the minister’s message was aired, he came under attack from outraged residents in New Hargeisa and was accused of downplaying the seriousness and the level of damages. They took to the streets and protested against him in disgust. They said he was ignoring their safety and that he failed to see the real damages including the untold emotional distress it was having on the victims.

The case is no where near solved and the attacks are continuing in other parts of the city. Just today, Saturday 26 local time, at least two homes were burnt to the ground in the Ahmed Moge neighbourhood.

This latest figure brings the total number of homes destroyed to about 27. All the houses, except two, were traditional huts known as aqal Somali while others were plastic tents, which could not be saved. Most of these affected families are impoverished former pastoralists communities who had been displaced by droughts from their rural lives.

There have been no reports of death or injuries but the fire still poses a threat to lives and homes. All of the homes were attacked during the bright daylight, most occurring between the hours of 11am and 2pm.

Residents in the affected area are now on top of their roofs watching for more attacks while volunteers are being urged to keep watch on the streets. The terrified residents demanded justice regardless of the arsonists’ identity and motives. They called on the government and relief agencies to assist the displaced people. The government is yet to comment on the situation and there are no reports of them offering any emergency accommodations.

The religious leaders condemned the attacks and called for calm. They said it was against the Islamic law to displace innocent people. They are collecting donations for the victims.

Police detectives said they were investigating the case and will put an end to it soon. However, residents in Ga’an Libah and Ahmed Moge have called on the Hargeisa’s mayor Hussein Mohamoud Ji’ir to resign along with his councils. They insist on that he is giving this case until now a low priority.

Police have also renewed their appeal for anyone with information about the incidents to come forward, particularly anyone who may have witnessed the attacks.

This is the first time Somaliland has had a case like this and the police does not have an arson squad nor specialists in similar fields. The city does not have adequate firefighters and practices.

The interior minister blames the growing population. Due to the relative peace, Hargeisa has been growing city in the last twenty years and its now said to have a population of one million.

SomalilandPress.com