The struggle for marginalized  rights in Somalia takes place in a context where the abuse of human rights in general has persisted for decades, from the widespread torture and political oppression of the Siad Barre era to state collapse in 1991 and subsequent and ongoing civil war. Immense violations have affected all Somalis, majorities and minorities alike. Majority groups, however, benefit from a traditional clan structure that has afforded them protection and privilege not available to marginalized communities, who, regardless of the conflict, already suffered marginalization and exclusion from mainstream economic, social and political life, and  legacy customary segregation, dispossession, and displacement.

The clan structure of the majorities continues to excludes Marginalized members from significant political participation and employment; limits their access to justice where abuse has been perpetrated against them or they stand accused of a crime; denies them their rights to development, education and sustainable livelihoods; and prevents and punishes inter-marriage with members of majority groups. Majorities also routinely subject marginalized members to hate speech, which has served to perpetuate stereotypes of marginalized groups  relating to their physical appearance and traditional practices, and thus heighten their exclusion.

Example of the marginalized group include; the Bantus locally known as jareer  in Somalia are treated as a second-class citizen and suffered significant discrimination, which contributed to exclusions from many economic, social, and political, opportunities. Such rights violations intensified when the civil war broke out in 1991 and the Somali Bantus were exposed to high levels of war violence including killings, rape and forced military recruitment. To escape the brutality, many fled their homes to nearby refugee camps in Kenya, experiencing further subjugation while living in some of the most insecure sections of the refugee camps. In 1998, the United States recognized the Somali Bantus as a persecuted  group and moved to admit up to 12,000 Somali Bantu into the United States. Resettlement was delayed with the events of 9/11, and the majority came to the US between 2004 and 2006

The Somali Bantus nationwide are the largest of the minority groups and may make up to 40 percent of the national population. They still face severe discrimination and are grossly underrepresented in the country’s power-sharing system known as the 4.5 framework. Minorities are also largely excluded from other humanitarian aid, political and security positions, and including those the United States is training, especially at the senior level.

Southern Somalia is the homeland of the Somali Bantus (locally known as Jareer). It is also ground zero in the fight against al-Shabaab. Yet the Lower and Middle Jubba Regions and Shabelle are governed not by the Somali Bantus but by the regional Administration, Jubbaland and Hirshabelle, predominantly by minority-clans who pretend to be majority in these regions. This fact helps explain why the United States and Somalia have had limited success against al-Shabaab. The member states especially Jubbaland and Hirshabelle adminstrations, which benefits from the wartime economy and seeks to strengthen its control of the region’s resources, obstructs efforts by the United States to degrade and contain al-Shabaab. Preventing the equal representation of the Somali Bantu in the Somali national Army and the police force are the key elements of the Regional Administrations’ obstruction. The Global citizens are the Somali Bantu’s last hope to avoid being ethnically cleansed from their ancestral farmland. Somali Bantu are ready, willing, and able partners who are motivated to protect their families and homes in southern Somalia from al-Shabaab’s extortion, rape, slavery, and killing.

We cannot standby and just watch the ongoing outrageous systematic genocide, barbaric rape, execution, property looting, displacement and ever existing unfair treatment against unarmed Somali Bantu people. We would like to ask the the international community and the global citizens to be aware of the above stated concerns to make the oppressors accountable to their heinous acts based on hatred, tribalism, and humiliation.Our belief of democracy, law and order, justice and fairness, coexistence communities and transparency governance is to work with our people to ensure that Somali Federal government and its member States fulfill its promises of equal treatment to their citizens before national and international laws, particularly Somali Bantu people, and eradicate tribalism, clan supremacism, nepotism and many more. 

Somalia's social, political and security gravity and its importance to the American people and whose nature is intimately related to the international norms on justice and democracy. Yet, alarmingly, we are continuing to address the social, political injustice, and human rights violations in Somalia, which may well develop into something more dangerous if they aren’t addressed. 

we ask you to also stand up and sign for justice and equality in Somalia . Every one of you is needed.

Make your own

#IamMarginalized #MarginalizedLivesMatter #ISignForJustice&Equality #IStandAgainst4.5 #No4.5InSomalia picture. Take a photo of yourself with your phone or computer and add the hashtags. Or use our Facebook Frame.  Ask your followers to do the same.