MOGADISHU (KAAB TV) – The family of Abdiaziz Mohamed Abba, a 44-year-old father of 11 children and a member of the minority Banadiri group, has come forward to express their distress over his disappearance, which has lasted for a concerning period of four months and 22 days.
Recent testimonies from released detainees shed light on his alleged detention at the notorious Godka Jilaow detention facility, operated by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).
Abdiaziz Mohamed Abba, a 44-year-old father of 11 children and a member of the minority Banadiri group, has been missing from his family for a distressing period of 4 months and 22 days. Recent testimonies from released detainees, whom I had the opportunity to interview, indicate… pic.twitter.com/gLqneN4Bks
— Abdalle Ahmed Mumin (@Cabdalleaxmed) June 3, 2023
Abdiaziz, who was born and raised in Mogadishu to a Banadiri family, led a modest yet content life with his wife and children. On 19 February 2023, he vanished from his printing house located near the Hared Mosque in the bustling Bakaro market. A colleague from the same printing house also disappeared during the same day.
The colleague, who was later released and requested anonymity, confirmed that both he and Abdiaziz were apprehended by armed individuals associated with NISA. They were subsequently taken to Godka Jilaow, where they reportedly endured repeated acts of torture. However, while the colleague was eventually freed, Abdiaziz remained in detention, enduring intensified torture. The released detainees we interviewed verified that he has not had access to legal representation or received any visits from his family.
Involvement of officials from the Ministry of Justice
Disturbingly, Abdiaziz’s family has shared additional details suggesting the involvement of senior officials from the federal Ministry of Justice. Just two days before his disappearance, Abdiaziz received a phone call from State Minister of Justice Mumino Sheikh Omar, who urged him to wait for two days.
The minister’s call coincided with Abdiaziz’s filing of cases at both the Bondhere and Wadajir district courts. In these legal actions, he accused well-connected individuals of attempting to illegally seize his family’s land and property, as supported by reviewed documents and family accounts.
One filing made on 17 November 2022 targeted a man named Habib Omar Sheikh, whom Abdiaziz accused of trying to take over a house and land property in the Bondhere district. Despite facing pressure from government officials, Abdiaziz persisted and filed a similar lawsuit at the Wadajir district court. Court documents reviewed by our reporter reveal that the court issued a decision to summon Habib Omar Sheikh and restrict his travel due to his non-compliance with the summons.
As the court’s decision remained unimplemented, Abdiaziz sought enforcement through the higher court, as described by the family. It was during this period that Habib Omar Sheikh allegedly conspired with influential officials at the Ministry of Justice in Mogadishu.
On 17 February, Abdiaziz received a call from State Minister of Justice Mumino Sheikh Omar, who is related to Habib, advising him not to take further actions and to wait for two days. Subsequently, on 19 February, Abdiaziz vanished.
When contacted for comments regarding Abdiaziz’s case, State Minister Mumino Sheikh Omar abruptly ended the call and did not respond afterward. Minister of Justice Hassan Sheikh Ali declined to address this specific case. However, Chairman of the Somali Military Court, Liban Ali Yarow, confirmed his awareness of Abdiaziz’s situation and stated that he had contacted NISA on 1 June 2023. As of now, no response has been received from NISA.
Abdiaziz’s family now appeals for detailed information regarding his whereabouts since 19 February 2022 and demands his immediate release from unlawful detention. They are also concerned about the protection of their property and land, as reports suggest that one of the properties mentioned in the court documents may have been sold during Abdiaziz’s detention.
According to Human Rights Watch, NISA has been known to arbitrarily detain individuals, including those from minority groups, subjecting them to coercive treatment, interrogations, denial of access to family and legal counsel, threats, and occasional beatings and torture. In November 2022, the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) released a report documenting the findings of its investigation into NISA which revealed instances of torture, ill-treatment, and sexual violence perpetrated by NISA.
The Banadir community, from which Abdiaziz hails, is believed to be descended from Arab immigrant settlers in Somalia. Unlike dominant clans, minority groups like the Banadiri lack sufficient local and international protection. Recurring insecurity caused by conflict renders them vulnerable and disproportionately displaced from their homes.
Local human rights organizations have also expressed concern over the denial of land and livestock ownership rights for minority groups in Somalia. Minorities often find themselves restricted to traditional occupations such as blacksmithing and shoemaking, facing marginalization and discrimination.
The case of Abdiaziz Mohamed Abba highlights the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and the protection of human rights in Somalia, particularly for vulnerable minority groups.