Dear Militants,
You have killed hundreds of thousands of friends and family, perhaps we didn't know them personally, but they were like us. People who worked hard to make a living, who were loved by others, who worried about their children's education, health and well being. Amongst family members, you have taken away Uncles Mohamed Camir, Cabdi-Casis Bashir, Mohamed Osman and our Great Uncle Xassan Osman. How many more will you take?
Why do you slaughter the innocent?
Al Shabaab, you released a gruesome video, showing civilians being forced into the sea and you slaughtered them in a hail of gunfire. To add to the discomfort and pain that you have already caused, within a matter of hours, you then carried out attacks in a hotel killing at least 24 people. Out of many, you have savagely and deliberately taken away Somalia's Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, H.E. Ambassador Yusuf Bari-Bari, a man known for his commitment to protecting human rights.
Among those mourning is the Albinism community, a community whose body parts are believed to 'bring good luck' and sold in the African black market. This week people with albinism have won a remarkable victory on the world stage, but now they are without a great friend and ally. Africa has lost another champion of human rights.
Just like an aggressive cancer, you have attacked without caution and killed defenceless civilians, daily. You have torn families apart; relationships and friendships, but you still fail to understand that your violence will never destroy our soul. You may shoot innocent civilians as they attempt to swim for their lives, disrupt our governments, blow up buildings; hotels, hospitals, shopping centres and religious places of worship. But you will never destroy our freedom.
Not only do you leave the carnage of bodies on school playgrounds and streets for our children to see, you also leave them with deep psychological scars and disorders.
Now, you must be thinking, "who is she to tell us this?" The real question is, "who am I not to?" I speak for the children of Africa who you have selfishly taken away from their schools, their families and their homes. I am the voice of the schoolgirls who you kidnapped under the world's noses and those who you are continuously abducting to this day. I am the voice of the civilians who you slaughter like sheep and blow up like fireworks.
I am Somalia, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania.
I am Africa.
You are deceived in thinking that you are fighting for a 'cause'. I do not know what God you believe in, or what odious rhetoric you espouse, or what your ill-advised political beliefs are that give you the permission to do what you do everyday. However, one thing is clear to us. The more audacious and dreadful your acts, the greater your satisfaction.
Your savagery has to end.
Boko Haram, you were in the news again, this time for pledging allegiance to ISIS. Just in case we thought you couldn't get any worse, you then abduct another 500 women and children.
On the most closely contested presidential race, you decide to kill over 40 people and try to frighten hundreds from polling stations, but millions came out onto the streets to vote across Nigeria. This is why almost every African hails Nigeria as one of 'the giants of Africa.' Regardless of how hard you try to destroy a nation, freedom will forever triumph.
We are all moving forward and battling an insidious cancer. A cancer which we cannot reason with. We have hope, dreams and a future. Africans have hope, dreams and a future.
I will leave you with Mandela's words. He may sound familiar to you.
"I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
God bless Africa and give her peace.
Sincerely,
A concerned African.
You have killed hundreds of thousands of friends and family, perhaps we didn't know them personally, but they were like us. People who worked hard to make a living, who were loved by others, who worried about their children's education, health and well being. Amongst family members, you have taken away Uncles Mohamed Camir, Cabdi-Casis Bashir, Mohamed Osman and our Great Uncle Xassan Osman. How many more will you take?
Why do you slaughter the innocent?
Al Shabaab, you released a gruesome video, showing civilians being forced into the sea and you slaughtered them in a hail of gunfire. To add to the discomfort and pain that you have already caused, within a matter of hours, you then carried out attacks in a hotel killing at least 24 people. Out of many, you have savagely and deliberately taken away Somalia's Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, H.E. Ambassador Yusuf Bari-Bari, a man known for his commitment to protecting human rights.
Among those mourning is the Albinism community, a community whose body parts are believed to 'bring good luck' and sold in the African black market. This week people with albinism have won a remarkable victory on the world stage, but now they are without a great friend and ally. Africa has lost another champion of human rights.
Just like an aggressive cancer, you have attacked without caution and killed defenceless civilians, daily. You have torn families apart; relationships and friendships, but you still fail to understand that your violence will never destroy our soul. You may shoot innocent civilians as they attempt to swim for their lives, disrupt our governments, blow up buildings; hotels, hospitals, shopping centres and religious places of worship. But you will never destroy our freedom.
Not only do you leave the carnage of bodies on school playgrounds and streets for our children to see, you also leave them with deep psychological scars and disorders.
Now, you must be thinking, "who is she to tell us this?" The real question is, "who am I not to?" I speak for the children of Africa who you have selfishly taken away from their schools, their families and their homes. I am the voice of the schoolgirls who you kidnapped under the world's noses and those who you are continuously abducting to this day. I am the voice of the civilians who you slaughter like sheep and blow up like fireworks.
I am Somalia, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania.
I am Africa.
You are deceived in thinking that you are fighting for a 'cause'. I do not know what God you believe in, or what odious rhetoric you espouse, or what your ill-advised political beliefs are that give you the permission to do what you do everyday. However, one thing is clear to us. The more audacious and dreadful your acts, the greater your satisfaction.
Your savagery has to end.
Boko Haram, you were in the news again, this time for pledging allegiance to ISIS. Just in case we thought you couldn't get any worse, you then abduct another 500 women and children.
On the most closely contested presidential race, you decide to kill over 40 people and try to frighten hundreds from polling stations, but millions came out onto the streets to vote across Nigeria. This is why almost every African hails Nigeria as one of 'the giants of Africa.' Regardless of how hard you try to destroy a nation, freedom will forever triumph.
We are all moving forward and battling an insidious cancer. A cancer which we cannot reason with. We have hope, dreams and a future. Africans have hope, dreams and a future.
I will leave you with Mandela's words. He may sound familiar to you.
"I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
God bless Africa and give her peace.
Sincerely,
A concerned African.