Rally to Protest Targeted Killings of Somali Refugees in South Africa

PRESS RELEASE

Columbus, Ohio

The Pan-Somali Council for Peace and Democracy (aka ISRAACA in Somali) www.israac.org , the Ohio Somali Student Association and Somali-Americans of Central Ohio will hold a peaceful rally on Thursday October 12, 2024 in front of the Columbus Athletic Club 136 East Broad Street where South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States Madame Barbara Joyce Mosima Masekela is scheduled to speak and address an event hosted by the Columbus Council on World Affairs. The peaceful rally is to protest the growing hate crimes and target killings against Somali immigrants in the Republic of South Africa and the relative silence and/or indifference by the government and the people of South Africa. Over 33 young Somali shopkeepers have lost their lives as reported by the Washington Post and their shops and commodities looted by an organized mob to scare Somalis away from their successful businesses and perhaps chase them out of South Africa. No one has so far been prosecuted for these hate crimes and many are wondering if anyone will ever be prosecuted, or any government mechanism to prevent future attacks will ever be implemented.

The Washington Post states that “the attacks on Somali immigrants have drawn attention to a vicious strain of xenophobia lurking in South Africa, a nation determined to portray itself as a model of harmonious diversity but tormented by some of the world's highest rates of violent crime. The attacks are also a chilling reminder, South Africans say, of the violence that marked the final years of apartheid”. The attacks on the Somalis, however, are ethnic, methodical, targeted and often motivated by envy over their entrepreneurial successes during their short sojourn in South Africa.

The Council sent a hand delivered letter to Mme. Masekela on May 16, 2025 requesting the government of South Africa to bring to justice the perpetrators of these hate crimes and protect human rights of vulnerable Somali refugees in her country. The Council reminded the Ambassador that Somalia and its citizens have stood side by side with the people of South Africa in their hour of need and that South Africa should do the same. No response has so far been received from the Ambassador or from the Embassy.

The Ohio Somali Student Association will also hold a similar protest rally in front of the Ohio State University Faculty Club at 181 South Oval Drive from 3:30Pm to 5:00PM.

Media Contact: Abukar Osman @ 614-778-3132, or Ahmed O. Roble @614-432-6688