Since 2012, Somalia has turned a new page. A government recognized by the International Community is working hard to rebuild the country, it has won the hearts and minds of Somalis, life has returned to normal, children are going to school and a massive reconstruction period is under way. Furthermore, due to a new stability, EU/US/Turkey help, the Somali economy is on track.

Somalia exported 5 million livestock to Middle East, becoming the leading exporter of livestock and overtaking developed nations Like Australia. Fishery exports are Growing which is allowing more Somalis a good standard of living inside their country. There are even democratic elections scheduled in 2016 August which if managed properly can usher in Somalia a period of stability, peace and prosperity.

However, the international terrorist group Al Shabaab which has links to Al Qaeda is determined to set the country back. Last week Al Shabaab wantonly massacred 18 civilians in a hotel in Mogadishu City. The terrorists are hell bent on terrorizing the peace loving Somali people and indiscriminately opened fire on unarmed civilians in the hotel after a suicide bomber blew himself/herself, shooting everybody in sight, not sparing women, children or the elderly.

After the terrorist started the massacre, Somali security forces NISA came to the aid of the hotel and ended the siege. Many in the hotel locked the doors hoping that they may be spared there. However, the terrorists followed them inside, shooting and killing them all. Then, the terrorists torched the hotel, destroying all property, food and everything inside. 16 out of the 18 killed were innocent civilians passing by and two were government officials.

This comes after the Garissa University massacre in which 147 students and teachers were barbarically killed by the Shabaab terrorist wing in Kenya only last year.

The Somali people have no culture of terrorism. It is an alien concept imported from the Middle East with Saudi Clerical Funds. After committing crimes intended to extinguish the peace spirit of the Somali and Kenyan people, the terrorist group Al Shabaab is now increasingly targeting other people, killing people under Islam and false jihad, and committed armed robberies along the unsecured Kenya-Somali border.

The Somali people are tired of senseless war and its people affected by drought, famine, lack of water and basic services can’t afford this false jihad imported to them – alien and controversial. The Somali people want peace. Somalia wants peace. I want peace. What we all want is a peace that is genuine, that is enduring and long lasting and that is where the international community and the federal Government of Somalia can work together to propel Somalis into peace, democracy and prosperity.