Disturbing News: Missing Twin Cities Somalis, terror ties probed

Fikirka Xorta ah -- "Missing Twin Cities Somalis, terror ties probed", was the headline for the Start Tribune"s (Minnesota's largest daily newspaper) Wednesday, November 26 . This is one of the most disturbing news I heard so far from my old home town since I left almost two years ago to pursue my dreams of managing a major news organization in other cities in North America and Europe.

When I opened my inbox from the paper’s RSS feed, I stared the headline for few minutes before I dared to read the article. I couldn't believe for what I was reading. Young Somalis from the Twin Cities area abandoning their future to commit suicide in Somalia/Somaliland !

I was heartbroken twice. For once; the city of Hargeisa (Capital City of Somaliland) that was attacked by suicide bombers on October 29, 2008 is my ancestor's homeland. It is the place where my mother, my siblings, and most of my relatives live. It is my home city which I'm so connected that a big poster of the modern Hargeisa’s view hanged on the wall of my old office in Minneapolis. Any one who walked in my office could have seen the poster. I was always eager to tell people about the city if asked. My favorite line was, "Ooh that is my home town city of Hargeisa, Somaliland". Usually more questions followed of where Hargeisa is, what is it like to live there etc. And anyone could see how proud I was to share what I know about that far corner of the world surrounded by a region devastated by war and famine.

The attack of that day killed 22 people and injured dozens more. My cousin Zahra who is the UN's Political Officer in Hargeisa, was about to leave when her coworker stopped her near the main gate entrance of their Hargeisa UNDP Head Quarters for small chat and to say hello. As soon as she has turned to move away from him, a speeding SUV vehicle drove in flying and chased by armed police at the gate running behind the car trying to stop. Within minutes the car exploded next to the main building . The ground has shaken and half of the building collapsed. My cousin’s friend that she was just talking to dead on the spot. Because she was sort of away from the explosion, she escaped uninjured but nonetheless shocked and dismayed.

For the next few days, Hargeisa's communication system, mainly phone lines were jammed as Somaliland Diaspora Communities tried to reach home to find out details of what had happened and to check up on their relatives. There were memorial services in most countries where Somalilanders live and people rallied to send relief for the victims and hospitals.

The government's reaction to secure the institutions, foreign diplomats and all other main economic infrastructures was swift. Several people alleged to have something to do with the attacks were arrested. Investigations are still going on but life you know it in Somaliland has changed forever. There are more visible security personnel, more check ups and more delays in traveling around the nation.

So, as the wounds of that horrible attack still fresh, it is heartbreaking to me that people from a state (Minnesota) that I love so much may have something to do with it. Minnesota is the home state of the largest Somali ethnic community in USA. Minnesota is a place where, despite the coldest weather in the US except Alaska, I and other Somali expatriates made home. Minnesota is a place where the most tolerant human beings live. It is a state where residents value diverse cultures, educational advancement and human ingenuity. My home state Minnesota, is the best place on earth in my opinion.

Star Tribune's report ".. there is a high-level investigation of whether six to seven young Somali men and teenagers left the Twin Cities and returned to their homeland to participate in terrorist activities." clearly shows the Vulnerability of young persons to fall victims to the demise of ideologue/murderous, extremists minds hiding among general population.

The details of the news is yet to be seen, but it doesn't take one to understand that those young men killed in the suicide bomb or those in the “pipeline” willing to kill themselves have been brainwashed. The challenge, however, is for us to reclaim our youth. We need to find a way to prevent this to happen again. A better picture to understand how young bright men could go halfway around the globe to commit this horrible act would eventually come out of the investigation. But if my assumptions are correct, lack of choices may have contributed to their decision. That is if and if the news is right.