As smoke and the initial shock cleared from the apocalyptic scene that follows a mass terror act, two little boys were running around in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu looking for their mother. They were eventually led to her. The boys went home carrying pieces of her burnt remains in a small box; she was killed along with more than 300 people on Saturday. 500 more were injured and almost 150 missing.

The ground-shaking attack at a busy junction destroyed hotels, government offices and restaurants. Sadly ironic, the office of Witness Somalia—an organization aiming to help war-torn Somali society pursue peaceful pathways, free from violence, through empowering women and youth—was completely destroyed by the terror attack.

“My friends and other colleagues who work in human rights were killed,” said Faiza Dhocob, a Gender Officer at Witness Somalia. “I remain utterly shocked and saddened by this cowardly senseless mass killing.”

Witness Somalia, a member organization of the Women Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL) which is spearheaded by the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) issued a statement describing the attack:

Truck laden with military grades and variety of homemade explosive devices were used which maximized the impact and the death toll that some of the deceased bodies could not be recognized due to the intense heat generated by the blast that burned down people, a gas station which is located exactly where the truck exploded made the situation more worse. More than five main buildings were completely destroyed into ashes with all people inside those building assumed also to be dead.

But despite their despair, Witness Somalia is helping victims and unifying families with their missing loved ones. They are also calling “for all civil society organizations and community volunteers to extend their unconditional support to the affected families by starting fundraising platforms, distribution medical supplies and providing food as well as clothes to the wounded people,” and they want a memorial wall and billboards installed in Mogadishu in memoriam of those who lost their lives.

No group has yet claimed it was behind the bombing. Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmajo” Mohamed blamed the attack on Al-Shabab, calling it a “heinous act.” The president, who took power in February, decided to stop all negotiations with Al-Shabab, rendered them unprotected by the law and gave his forces, and anyone who sees them, the order to kill them on spot instead of bringing them to justice. He had previously vowed to rid the country of the group.

Earlier this year, Al Shabab vowed to increase its attacks after both the Trump administration and Somalia president announced new military efforts against the group. Some view the attack as revenge against increased drone strikes by the U.S., most notably a July mission in Barire, a strategically significant town on a major road 45 kilometers (28 miles) from the capital. But even though Al Shabaab has been a source of terror for years, the group distanced itself from this attack.

The militant group has done more than enough damage over the years. Hundreds of boys have been kidnapped for recruitment from their schools and from home, according to Dhocob. “For each family with four boys, Al-Shabab takes two. They threaten clan leaders that if they do not bring those children, they will kill them,” she stated. “So many families are shattered and displaced in the areas under Al-Shabab control.” Extremism is also taking a toll on education. “Many people have stopped sending their children to schools out of fear of what they might face,” she said, adding that Somalia “lost bright students who were doing really well.”

Being a peace activist in Somalia is risky. The militants eye them with suspicion. “People who work in local and international NGOs, or with the government, are always in danger,” Dhocob said. “If Al-Shabab sees us, we are ‘punished,’ and if they catch us, we do not have a chance to survive. They think we are spies to international donors, or not ‘true’ Muslims.” The government is also wary of them; activists also have to be checked by national security every time they travel. Nevertheless, Witness Somalia is involved in protecting and promoting basic principles and values of human rights by advocating for equality and social justice in grassroots communities.

Dhocob’s work revolves around women rights, mainly post-rape action. “We demand justice for women. We push women to raise their voices,” she said. The organization educates women to report on rape cases and provides legal aid. They have won many cases—and were able to convince doctors to hand in court evidence on rape cases, which they had previously avoided doingo. “The doctors now stand for women,” Dhocob highlighted. Witness Somalia set up a lab in one of Mogadishu’s hospitals dedicated to rape cases and check-ups. Notably, it relocates women who survived rape and are at risk of being forcibly disappeared or killed in their hometowns. The organization trains graduates in legal aid and defense and journalists to speak on behalf of women who were raped.

In addition, awareness campaigns also target the government to push for actions—but this work cannot end there. Dhocob explains: “It should not be civil society only helping women. Women are still vulnerable. We want to take every position possible to help them, and inform them of their rights.”

Dhocob and her colleagues, a dedicated group of human right defenders and social workers, have been working since January 2015 on monitoring and documenting human rights violations and abuses that are taking place within the country. The organization calls for remedial action, both at a governmental and grassroots level, and demand those behind such violations to be held accountable.

“Today’s horrific attack proves our enemy would stop nothing to cause our people pain and suffering. Let’s unite against terror,” President Mohamed said on Twitter following the deadly attack. “Time to unite and pray together. Terror won’t win.” Dhocob hopes the same.

More Interviews

Sisters of Peace in Iraq: Diffusing the Timebomb of a Divided Mosul

In the war-torn city of Mosul, Iraq, the scars of conflict run deep. The rise and fall of ISIS left behind a community fractured by violence. ISIS male fighters were killed, captured, or fled, but the women they married, and their children remained. Referred to as “ISIS-associated families”, they are stuck in limbo, without legal status and facing ostracism and isolation.

The challenge of reintegrating these families into society is a daunting task, but the Odessa Organization for Women’s Development (Odessa) – a partner of ICAN and member of WASL- is making significant strides in bridging this divide.

An Association of Liberian Women Peacebuilders Gain Visibility and Legitimacy Resolving Community Disputes

ICAN’s Senior Program Officer, Stacey Schamber, and WASL member and Executive Director of WEDOL, Rosaline Cassell, spoke about the far-reaching impacts of the She Builds Peace campaign in Liberia.

WEDOL launched She Builds Peace with a parade and panel discussion in Margibi County, attracting over 300 participants, including the police and local authorities. The event garnered public recognition for Liberian women peacebuilders and opened dialogue about how they can be supported and protected. On the back of the launch, WEDOL also established a “village savings and loan association” (VSLA) for women peacebuilders. Through the association, the members have taken the lead in resolving community-level conflicts; they are working with local chiefs and gaining visibility and legitimacy for their roles.

Podcasting and Peacebuilding: She Talks Peace with Amina Rasul

ICAN’s Senior Program Officer, Stacey Schamber, and WASL member and President of PCID, Amina Rasul, in conversation about the She Talks Peace podcast, part of the global She Builds Peace campaign.

Marie-Joëlle Zahar is Pushing the Boundaries for Women in Security & Peacebuilding

Marie-Joëlle Zahar has been an ICAN Board Member since 2019. In this interview, she reflects on her early experiences during the war in Lebanon and how they shaped her journey in the world of conflict resolution, peacekeeping, post-conflict reconstruction, and gendered work. Marie-Joëlle shares stories of her time as a Senior Expert on the Standby Team of Mediation Experts at the UNDPPA, what it was like being one of the few women in international mediation spaces, and her advice for the next generation of women peacebuilders and WPS practitioners. Read more to view the full conversation.

“We are not afraid, we are resisting”: A strong message from the Director of Myanmar’s Gender Equality Network

At 8pm every evening since February 1, 2021 hundreds of thousands across Myanmar bang pots and pans to demonstrate their non-violent resistance to the military coup. This symbolic act is part of the Red Ribbon campaign, a nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement. The movement’s message is clear, explains May Sabe Phyu, Director of the Gender Equality Network (GEN) and a member of WASL: “We are not afraid; we are resisting the coup.”

“Let us go where the guns are loud”: How Esther Omam Builds Peace in Cameroon

“Women peacebuilders run to the problem when everyone else is running away,” said ICAN’s CEO and Founder, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini. This statement could not be truer of award-winning Cameroonian peacebuilder, Esther Omam. Esther’s career has seen her go from development worker to humanitarian responder to mediator and peacebuilder, in the South-West region of Cameroon.

Peace Heroes: Najlaa El Sheikh Helps Syrian Women Refugees Become Business Owners

“I often dream the jasmine returns to Syria to decorate and perfume our streets.”
As the Syrian regime rained barrel bombs on her hometown in Syria, Najlaa and her family were forced to flee to Turkey where she established the first organization led by a Syrian woman to help other women refugees with literacy, economic empowerment, and psychosocial support.
Peace Hero Najlaa El Sheikh speaks to ICAN about her journey, her work, and her dreams.

Peace Heroes: Muna Luqman and the Role of Women in War-Stricken Yemen

We spoke to Yemeni peace activist Muna Luqman, co-founder of the Women Solidarity Network and member of the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL), about the war in Yemen, its devastating ramifications, and about the strength of Yemeni women in the face of this destruction.

Peace Heroes: Indonesia’s Mira Kusumarini Shows How Reintegrating Ex-extremists is Done

Mira Kusumarini talks to ICAN about C-SAVE’s efforts to alter the lives of returnees and prepare their communities to accept them.

Peace Heroes: Why Nancy Yammout Met with Extremists in Lebanese Prisons

Nancy Yammout speaks to ICAN about Rescue Me’s efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate prisoners found guilty of terrorism —and how, over nine years, they’ve engaged with some 680 prisoners, and been pivotal in blocking their re-recruitment into terror groups.