Announcement of Lower Shebelle People’s Guard (LSPG)
Press Release
Date: 10/08/2016 Ref. No. ISSH/16/001
Objective: Announcement of Lower Shebelle People’s Guard (LSPG)
The lower Shebelle community of Somalia, both in the Diaspora and those inside the country, have held a meaningful deliberation on the current situation in the region and have decided today, Saturday, October 08, 2016, to announce officially and publicly the creation of an organization called Lower Shebelle People’s Guard.
The LSPG has been established for the sole purpose of protecting the common interest of the lower Shebelle community, who desperately need to safeguard their people, territory and its resources. The formation of the Lower Shebelle People’s Guard is so critical to the survival of fragile people who have been subjected to harsh occupation by Alshabaab.
The Lower Shebelle People’s Guard is poised to end these coldhearted practices below that have been imposed on the Lower Shebelle Region and its people for a long time:
- The enormous insecurity and the multifaceted atrocities such as unabated killings, massivelooting and the brutal rapes targeted at the lower Shebelle people.
- The humanitarian crisis caused by the developmental retardation of the region inflicted on by both the extremist groups and government militia.
- The lack of free movement of the people due to roadblocks, extortion and ransom, as well as huge illegal taxations.
The people of the lower Shebelle region are unable to remain in this ravaging situation, and therefore have unanimously decided that neither the Federal Government of Somalia, nor the current local administration ISWA can end these devastating conditions, which the people of Shebelle live under on a daily basis.
It is the time now that the Lower Shebelle community depends on their own guards for security and defense of their region. We believe it is the only solution that will bring stability and normalcy to the people’s life so they can help themselves to pursue their agricultural way of living, and create schools and hospitals for their children.
The organization has the credit and support of all community leaders of Lower Shebelle region, especially the traditional and religious elders, politicians, diaspora community, educators and civil society groups, women and youth groups, business people, and farmers.
The objectives of the LSPG are to contribute and restore security of Lower Shebelle region and its surroundings. The LSPG is ready to cooperate with ISWA, the Somali Federal Government and AMISOM to eradicate Alshabaab all together from this region and throughout Somalia. The LSPG is looking forward to helping establish a way that all Somali people can live in harmony and peace.
The LSPG leadership is mindful of the difficulty of such an enterprise of creating a people’s guard. They are kindly appealing to the Federal Government of Somalia, the Interim South West Administration, AMISOM and the International Community to support their decision. The Lower Shebelle people wish to cooperate side by side, supporting a united effort to eradicate the extremists and, as a result, change the status quo in the Lower Shebelle region into a more humane and acceptable form of life.
Respectfully yours,
- Abdullahi Waafow – The chairman of Lower Shabelle People’s Guard
- Sheikh Saalah – Head of Mutadhawiciin ( volunteer guards) of Lower Shabelle People’s Guard
- Mohamed Osman Ali- Yariisow- Head of Mobilization of Lower Shabelle People’s Guard
- Abdiqani A. Yusuf Bolimog – Logistician and spoksman of Lower Shabelle People’s Guard
Abdiqani A Yusuf
Spokesman of the Lower Shebelle People’s Guard.
Email: lowershabelleguard@gmail.com.
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