It’s been awhile (last November actually) since I told you about the black on black violence in South Africa—you know that country that was supposed to be a beacon for freedom once the White government was thrown out.
So, this morning here is an update. It seems that Somalis who have been in South Africa for over a decade are being systematically terrorized, not by whites but by their fellow African blacks. Interesting huh? Not racism surely? Must be xenophobia—has to be something hateful. It couldn’t be a cultural problem. Afterall, it’s only westerners who want to keep their own culture, this couldn’t be happening in Africa, right?
Read the whole article here. Trying to escape through Botswana from South Africa, Somalis attempting to get home to the safety of Somalia (yes, you heard that right!) were allegedly beaten and returned to dangerous black African- governed South Africa.
Now the Somalis face a new crisis. To date the UNHCR has financed their food and shelter, but the arrangement ends this week. Calle-Norena said the UNHCR does not have the resources “to provide permanent accommodation for them”, although his organisation will conduct a “protection needs analysis” to decide on future action.
Meanwhile, the Somalis remain determined to leave the country. The LRC’s Brickhill describes this as a “sad indictment of South Africa”, but adds that it’s not surprising.
“There’s a war in Somalia, but at least I know that my neighbours won’t turn on me,” one of the women refugees said. “We will be safer there.”
We want to go home and die in peace.
This is a nice country; it’s the [black] people who hate us.
I don’t understand all this hate. I want to go back to Somalia and live and die in peace. The war is still going on, but at least I will be safer there.