Condemnation of Sh. Mohamed Dubad killing

Centre for peace building, Development & Dialogue

PRESS RELEASE

I am saddened and shocked to hear that the brave and dedicated peacemaker who was senior leader of UWSLF was killed at his own home town of Garissa in North Eastern Kenya.

The assassination is horrendously barbaric act of terrorism against unarmed civilian, perpetrated by those who opposed all the noble values that he stood like freedom, nationhood, brotherhood and peace.

It is no doubt, the murder was plotted by those rejected recent peace agreements and we strongly condemn this cowardly act. The initial indication of the investigations seems to reveal responsibility to ONLF in this brutal murder.

Sheik Dubad was a well respected religiuos and political person, firm beliver of god and a hero of our times who decided to make peace for the sake of his suffering people. He was a real nationalist who paid the ultimate price.  

Sh. Dubad was the leading negotiator for the recent peace agreement with the Government of Ethiopia. He has campaigned the rights of Somali regional state people to live peacefully and develop their state with a clear unwavering commitment and determination to resolve the conflict through peaceful agreement.

Sh. Dubad had traveled to many countries including Kenya to create awareness about the importance of peace agreement signed with Government of Ethiopia. He worked tirelessly to promote the values of peace accord and urgent need for stability in the region.

He was a peace maker, who believed fervently in a federal and democratic Ethiopia’s constitution, in which all ethnics would live with dignity and freedom. He envisioned a negotiated political settlement and decided to work with development efforts in SNRS. He strived firm for the democratic rights of the regional development and he constantly grieved the subjugation of the Ogadeni people to ONLF totalitarianism.

Sh. Dubad joins a long list of distinguished leaders such as Sultan Tahar (chief of Warder), Garad Kahin Dahir (Grand chief of Degahbur), Sultan Shukri Makhtal, M. Shiil kebede and thousand others who were murdered by the ONLF in an attempt to subjugate the Ogadeni people through violence and terror. 

We at the Centre for peace building, development and Dialogue are profoundly saddened and deeply hurt on hearing this heartbreaking and painful news. To deliberately target a peaceful citizen sends a clear message that the real face of the terrorist forces.

We believe that this is deliberate and cruel action of terrorist and we urge all peace lovers to join us condemning this act in strongest terms and to pressure the Kenyan government to bring justice for those committed.

We warn again those extremist forces who oppose even people’s rights to live in peace, must know that they are responsible for the perpetuation of the terrorist cause, in as much as the ONLF is responsible for generating it. 

 I appeal to all Ethiopian Somalis not to be provoked by this wanton terrorist attack and to act with utmost restraint.

We call the government of Ethiopia to ensure the safety of members of UWSLF and other civil society groups promoting peace and developmnent.

On this tragic occasion, we, also share the grief and extend our deepest condolences to the family of Dubad Xirsi “Cagoole”, to his political colleagues, to his friends and to his supporters - particularly to the members of the UWSLF who, we believe, will not lose their courage even for a moment at this cowardly act by the assassins.

Lastly, we express our continued support for the peace building efforts in Somali region and call all activists to join together to bring peace in the region.

For further information please do contact the centre Center for peace building and development dialogue Email: centerpdd@gmail.com   http://www.cpbd.org/