Third woman and children rescued amid a rising tide of femicide in Somalia

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Third woman and children rescued amid a rising tide of femicide in Somalia

AFGOOYE (HORN OBSERVER) – In a harrowing incident in the Afgooye district, local residents and security forces thwarted an attempted femicide as a man, armed with petrol and matches, was apprehended while attempting to set his wife and children

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FILE PHOTO: Officials visit a displacement camp in Afgooye town, Lower Shabelle region.

AFGOOYE (HORN OBSERVER) – In a harrowing incident in the Afgooye district, local residents and security forces thwarted an attempted femicide as a man, armed with petrol and matches, was apprehended while attempting to set his wife and children ablaze on Monday morning, February 5.

The Lower Shabelle region’s governor, Mohamed Ibrahim Barre, confirmed the incident and praised the quick response of the community in preventing a tragic outcome.

Barre stated, "There is another incident this morning, a man tried to burn his wife and children in the Afgoye district. He stood in front of their house and wanted to cause tragedy. The security forces arrested him.”

The governor highlighted that awareness is crucial, emphasizing the need for scholars to address the rising incidents of femicide throughout Somalia.

Barre recommended an independent investigation to identify the root causes behind such actions.

"Incidents have increased when the people need a lot of awareness, the scholars to stand up and do something about it,” he added.

"I recommend that an investigation be carried out into these actions and who is behind them. We, the Lower Shabelle administration, are starting this and the investigation is ongoing.”

This incident follows the tragic deaths of Luul Abdiasis and Fowsiyo Muhsin Mohamed, both mothers, bringing attention to the escalating issue of femicide in Somalia.

Pregnant with her seventh child, Luul Abdiasis, who is an employee at Mogadishu Airport, met a tragic end on January 26 in Mogadishu, while Fowsiyo Muhsin Mohamed, a mother of four, was brutally killed and dismembered on February 3 in Qoryoley town in the Lower Shabelle region.

The alleged perpetrators are currently detained but not yet charged.

These events underscore the broader problem of how women’s complaints against their husbands are handled within Somali society.

Typically, such complaints are not addressed by the police but referred to clan elders or family members for resolution.

Rooted in clan traditions, women often fear reporting against their husbands due to societal shame or potential harm to the family structure.

Parliamentarians at the Lower House expressed strong disapproval of the police’s inaction, condemning it as a clear indication of a dysfunctional justice system.

As Somalia grapples with alarming cases of femicide, there is a growing demand for a comprehensive reevaluation of systems to protect women and address domestic violence. The call for action intensifies, with the urgent need for societal change and a more responsive justice system.