Family of slain activist wants joint probe by Somalia, Canada into her death

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The bereaved family of Almas Elman, who was killed in Mogadishu, last Wednesday is calling for 'prompt and thorough' probe into the shocking death of the female peace activist, Garowe Online reports.

The former Somali diplomat was hit by a bullet at 4:34 p.m. local time inside Halane base camp while she traveling in a minibus to the airport after attending the EU hosted resilience program meeting on Nov. 20.

The Somali-Canadian activist was pronounced dead upon arrival at a military hospital run by African Union [AU] Mission [AMISOM] inside the compound after sustaining critical wounds inside the heavily fortified base.

In a statement on Saturday, the family described “premature” the AMISOM statement blaming a stray bullet killed their pregnant daughter and demanded a joint investigation by the Somalia and Canada.

“Any statements on the circumstances surrounding the death of Almas are premature and not helpful to our family, including speculation on whether this was a stray bullet,” read the statement in part.

Ismail Omar Guelleh, Djibouti president extended his deepest condolences over the death of Almas and prayed to Allah the Almighty to rest her soul in peace, and grant her family all patience and solace.

She becomes the second Somali-Canadian to be killed this year in Somalia. In July, Hodan Nalayeh, a prominent female journalist was among 27 people killed in a hotel attack in the southern port city of Kismayo.

Almas was the daughter of Elman Ali Ahmed, an outstanding human rights advocate who was assassinated in Mogadishu in 1996 during the country's bloody civil war while working on the disarmament of the militias. 

Raised in Ottawa, Almas Elman, her sisters, Ilwad and Iman with their mother Fartun returned to Somalia in 2007 to continue father’s work and founded Mogadishu-based Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre in his memory.

The Family Statement:

GAROWE ONLINE