I am Aweis Issa, an agronomist and environmental science consultant in the Lower Mainland area of British Columbia. I came to Canada as a refugee from Somalia. The reason that I left my country was because of the corruption of the dictatorship of Siad Barre, who was the President of Somalia. The country has now experienced civil war for eighteen years. The Islamists and the Warlords have destroyed the country. The Saudis have funded the building of many mosques in Somalia, although people do not have enough money for basic needs.

     When I was growing up in Somalia, I was raised as a Muslim, and I was educated in Koranic schools. Recently, the people in Somalia have been subjugated by the so-called Islamists, who use Islam to further their political agendas.

     After several years, I decided to return home to Somalia to gain first hand knowledge of the situation. The head of the Mogadishu International Airport, Lt. Col. Ahmed Ali, known as Aftoojey, gave me a tour of the airport and its operations. It’s actually a relatively safe airport, despite the years of war. In the K4 region of Mogadishu, I met Bashir Bariisi (see picture below), whose arm was destroyed by bullets from the Warlords and Islamists, who are fighting for power in Mogadishu. Anyone who refuses to join either side will be in danger.

     My sister, Mulki, and my brother, Cabdriham, both live in Mogadishu with our Uncle Abdulahi Afey and his wife Markabo Sheikh. As a result of a medical procedure when she was young, Mulki now walks with a limp. I have tried to sponsor my sister Mulki to come to Canada but due to strict immigration laws, I have not been successful in bringing her here. Mulki’s life in Somalia is so difficult due to her disability. I have been supporting Mulki and Cabdriham for the last seventeen years.

     When I was in Mogadishu, I tried to contact the Transitional Government Ministers. I met the Minister for Reconstruction, Resettlement and Reintegration, the Honorable Abdirahman Jama Abdalla, who stated that the international community is not supporting the Transitional Government. I used to be employed with the Somali Ministry of Agriculture, but I was unable to meet with the Minister of Agriculture during my recent stay in Somalia.

     Currently the Ethiopian and Ugandan Peace Keeping Forces are stationed in Somalia, and are doing a fantastic job in attempting to stabilize the country and establish peace. Unfortunately, the Islamists are well funded by outside sources. While in Somalia, I discussed the peace process with a number of Somalis, and people are happy with the Transitional Government and the Peace Keeping forces stationed in the country. As a Somali and Canadian citizen, I am asking the international community to give support to the Transitional Government.

[Reproduction of Photo by Bayby]

Pictured here are the ruins of the old Somalia Parliament.