In October 21st 1969, the democratically elected government in Somalia was overthrown in a coup and was replaced with a military dictatorship under the strong man Mohamed Siyad Barre. Consequently, for 21 one years, the Somali citizens suffered under the hands of a brutal dictatorship that robbed its citizens of the right to vote, the right to assemble, the right for a free independent judiciary system, the right for a free press and speech and all the other rights entailed in a free democratic institution. The repressive rule of Siyad Barre's regime lead to regional revolts through out Somalia.

From 1978 to 1990, scores of armed opposition groups have engaged in a bitter armed struggle against the Barre dictatorship reducing the regime's control to the Benadir region. In December 1990, the United Somali Congress (an armed clan based opposition group formed in 1989) infiltrated Mogadisho, bringing the civil war to the capital of the Somalia and subsequently leading to Barre regime's overthrow. As the people of Somalia celebrated the ouster of the ruthless dictatorship of Siyad Barre, Ali Mohamed Mahdi of the USC, proclaimed himself an interim president and sanctioned a reign of terror throughout the capital city of Mogadisho and the surrounding towns. The United Somali Congress was the last armed opposition group to enter the scene, yet the USC has transformed the national goal from establishment of a democratic government to clan oriented revenge. The USC leadership in Mogadisho carefully and selectively targeted the innocent Somali citizens outside their clan for extermination, while incorporating into the USC leadership clan members who were the vanguards of Siyad Barre's regime. The USC had adopted a brutal policy of abduction, torture, murder, prosecution and summary execution directed against innocent Somali citizens, irrespective of their past opposition to the Barre dictatorship. Hundreds of prominent intellectuals, businessmen, elders and community leaders, including many who were American educated were executed by the USC death squads.

The atrocities committed by the USC have already sparked the majority of the Somalis to take up armies and protect themselves. Thousands of civilians that had fled to Merka, Barava and Qoryoley have been attacked by the USC militia resulting in an exodus of the survivors south to Kismayo. Compounding the problem further, the USC in their quest to attain clan based domination attacked the last coastal city of Kismayo, forcing the civilians to take up arms and engage in a bitter baffle for their survival. The number of refugees who have fled from the senseless killings of the USC to the coastal city of Kismayo are over I million. Terrorized and living in a town with out sufficient food, shelter or medicine, many of the women, the children and the elderly are seeking refuge into Kenya.

Last week a boat carrying 700 of such refugees has shipwrecked off the coast of Malindi.

About 250 people, mostly women, children, elderly people and university students died.

Thousands of others left homeless and without their life long savings or assets are living in temporary camps in Kenya, under abhor able conditions.

The USC militia has even included in their target for extermination, the Somali and the Ethiopian refugees who fled to the Somali Democratic Republic during the Somali-Ethiopian war in 1977. The refugees who lived in U.N. administered camps in Jallalaqsi, and Qoryoley have also been attacked, and murdered by the USC militia.

The conflict was expanded further when an armed professional soldiers from the Barre regime who turned USC on the last minute, attacked the city of Galkacyo (of the Mudug region) at 3:00 A.M. on February 26, killing women, children and elders. In the history of Somalia, no group had electively sought to slaughter even the women and the children. The USC militia and leadership have embarked on the war against the women and children in an effort to kill any chance of reconciliation.

The myopic revenge -driven aggressions carried out by USC is plunging the country further into turmoil. By undertaking a campaign of prosecution against diverse clans, USC is acting against Somali interests and any hope for a stable Somalia. The United Somali Congress is committing tribal pillage in Somalia that makes the oppressive activities during Barre's regime seem moderate by comparison. It is ironic and yet tragic that USC ( an exclusive clan based group) which was one of the catalysts that lead to the downfall of Barre government, is now waging atrocities similar to those committed by Siyad Barre's government.

In terms of the Northern part of Somalia, we are encouraged by the on going dialogue to bring about peace, reconciliation and security among the people of the north. However, we are aware of the incidents that have taken place in the Sanag, Borame and Sool regions which undermine the negotiations taking place in Berbera. In reference to the Berbera Joint communiqué issued on February 27,1991, we are dismayed by the contents of provisions one, two, and five concerning the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the national unity of Somalia.

We urge all parties in the North to work together very seriously in identifying the political common ground in the North and to play a leading role in the national reconciliation, reconstruction and development.

We condemn the interference of the government of Ethiopia in the internal affairs of Somalia, and reject the sinister designs of the Ethiopian authorities against the Somali nation. We call upon the Ethiopian government to desist from any further involvement in the Somali affairs.

We, The Somali Community of the Americas, appeal to the United States Government and the international human rights organizations to condemn the uncivilized crimes committed by the USC leadership in Somalia and intervene to ensure that the refugees, both inside and outside

Somalia, receive assistance. We also request that the United Nations to conduct an investigation of the genocide taking place in Somalia.

We urged all peace loving members of the world community to work towards the release of the thousands and thousands of Somali families that USC had abducted from their homes in Mogadisho and from the surrounding towns of Afgoi, Merka, Barave, Qoryoley, Marrerey, and Gilib where they have fled to. USC had adopted Saddam Hussein's "human shield" policy, and collected the innocent families into "holding grounds' like cattle. We appeal to all agencies that supply Mogadisho with emergency aid to inspect these holding facilities and to assist these hostages in which ever way possible.

Sources: Genocide in Mogadishu  [Page 6][page 7]