Somalia: Medical student dies days after being shot by police in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A policeman in the Somalia capital Mogadishu has been linked to the death of a medical student, who succumbed to her injuries days after the incident, in what could further trigger animosity between civilians and security officers in the Horn of Africa nation, which is struggling with instability.

Miriam Mohamed Hersi, a final year medical student at Banadir University was shot by an armed police officer under unclear circumstances, before succumbing to her injuries 11 days later, a move that could trigger protests in the Horn of Africa nation.

Dr. Mohamed Mohamud Hassan, the Dean of students at Banadir University, confirmed the unfortunate death, adding that Ms. Miriam Hirsi was attacked by a policeman who was supposed to protect her life as required in the constitution.

According to the Dean, Miriam was carrying out her internship at Aden Abdulle Hospital in the capital Mogadishu. She was returning to her place on December 11th last week when a rogue policeman opened fire on a vehicle she was traveling in within Mogadishu.

Multiple sources said the policeman has since gone into hiding according, but there are deliberate efforts to catch up with her. The deceased had been hospitalized at Digfeer Hospital but passed on Wednesday morning.

Her death adds to a series of police killings in the country which have never been explained, with the opposition often calling for accountability. Police have been linked to quite a number of civilian killings in Somalia.

In fact, a week before her death, Zakariye Mohamud Hussein and Sowda Mohamud Hussein, two siblings were shot dead by military men at Debka junction in Mogadishu. The two were on an autorickshaw and were out on that fateful night to get food for a relative who was in the hospital.

On December 4, Mahad Abdirahman was gunned down by a policeman at Zoobe junction while on a motorbike. To date, none of the killers have been arrested despite beefed up security within the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

It's difficult to establish the causes of such deaths but police have often accused Al-Shabaab even of mysterious deaths linked to them. A good case is that of Ikran Tahilil, a young spy agent who was killed by security forces.

GAROWE ONLINE