Somali Peace Rally (Galkaio City, Somalia)
PRESS RELEASE
April 9, 2004
Posted to the web April 9, 2004
Galkaio City, Somalia
It has now become an open secret that Puntland’s dictator, Col. Abdullahi Yousuf, is on his way to London, United Kingdom (UK). Col. ABdullahi has committed human rights atrocities in Puntland State of Somalia, of which the death of the highly respected Somali paramount chief Sultan Ahmed Mohamed Hurre a British citizen, was one of his victims.
The Sultan, Col. Yousuf’s vocal critic, was brutally shot point blank by the dictator’s bodyguards on August 17, 2002, at Kalabeyr village in Puntland State of Somalia. It is firmly believed that the order was given by the dictator who was supervising the elimination of the respected traditional chief. Col. Yousuf has caused untold hardships, killings and atrocities among civilian populations in Bossasso, Qardo, Garowe and Galkaio Cities of Puntland State of Somalia.
The fact that the Colonel usually hides in London reportedly for a medical check up gives credence to his culpability. His previous arrival was a top secret for his supporters, and he reportedly moved from house to house in order to keep the angry Puntlanders at army’s length. Col. Yusuf has a litany of human rights abuses that stretch back to 25 years when he led the Ethiopia-based armed insurrection against the Somali government.
Meanwhile the children of another victim their father Abdulrahman Aidid killed point blank by Yousuf’s body guard in 1985 and the children of Sultan Hurre are both in UK and are calling for justice to prevail. In addition to these two high profile broad-day-light assassinations, there are many victims of Col. Yousuf’s trade mark eliminate your political enemies.
We, Somali Peace Rally (SPR), strongly urge the British authorities to prosecute Col. Yousuf for his dismal record in human rights. That would be a big relief for the grieving families who have just came to know that the killer of their loved ones is receiving treatment in a British hospital.
We also urge all human rights groups to press charges against this brutal Somali warlord who has wreaked havoc in a previously stable part of Somalia.
Col. Yousuf’s prosecution will not only do justice to committed crimes but will pluck the wings of another infamous Somali warlord.
We call on the World Community to take a tangible action against this aging dictator who has hands dripping with a fresh blood in Somalia. Only through arrest of such warlord and his look-alike, will peace and stability return to the Puntland regions and Somalia at large. The fact that the transplant liver is failing him now does not exonerate him from his escapades.