Somalia: MP Amina’s assassination raises concerns over women’s rights

 Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo has ensured various efforts to delay the presidential elections in the crisis-hit country, which are finally scheduled to take place on Sunday (May 15). In the countdown to the elections, Somalia is witnessing a tense environment due to attacks by the Al-Shabaab militant group.

In March 2022, the Al-Qaeda allied militants perpetrated a suicide bombing attack in Beledwyne, Hiran region, which resulted in the killing of Somali lawmaker Amina Muhammad Abdi and several others. In a statement, Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble had termed MP Amina's killing an assassination, thereby ordering an investigation into the attack. 

The lawmaker was commended as an example of public representation and promoter of justice as she continued to fight for women's rights in the Horn of Africa nation. 

Beledwyne suicide bombing attack took place when MP Amina was campaigning for her re-election to the parliament, despite the consistent efforts of President Farmajo to block her contest. 

Beacon of hope

MP Amina was an active supporter of women’s rights, calling for justice for female intelligence officer Ikran Tahlil Farah who was killed under mysterious circumstances in June 2021. While contesting for her re-election, the parliamentarian widely campaigned for punishment for the murderers of the former National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) officer. Notably, the lawmaker's backers have also indicated that she was targeted due to her attempts to bring relevant rights for women in the country and contesting against the Farmajo system.

As per reports, MP Amina was trying to expose the illegitimate activities of former NISA chief Fahad Yasin. She alleged that the President and his allies, including the erstwhile spy boss, were behind the kidnapping and killing of Ikran Tahlil. As a wide-known critic of Farmajo and his administration, MP Amina told the media that the President's supporters were blocking her from contesting in the elections as well as conducting a thorough investigation into Tahlil's disappearance. She was backed by several regional leaders against the Farmajo government. 

It is important to note that the Somali PM pointed toward a link between the lawmaker’s assassination and Ikran Tahlil's unprecedented murder. In a speech during an event in March 2022, PM Roble also assured justice for MP Amina and female spy Tahlil.

"I know, the same people who killed Ikran Tahlil also assassinated Amina," said PM Roble. 

Several sources have indicated the involvement of former spy chief Fahad Yasin his successor Yasin Farey and senior agent Abdullahi Kulane among a few other NISA officers in the kidnapping and killing of Ikran Tahlil. Reportedly, she faced massive physical and psychological abuse when she was kidnapped.