Saturday July 27, 2024
Onlookers gather at the crime scene in Philippi, Cape Town, where Somali businessman Omar Abdullahi Ahmed, also known as Omar Qamarji, was fatally shot by armed robbers. Police have cordoned off the area as investigations continue. The incident marks another tragic event in the ongoing pattern of xenophobic violence against Somali immigrants in South Africa.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (HOL) — A young Somali man, Omar Abdullahi Ahmed, also known as Omar Qamarji, was fatally shot by armed robbers in the Philippi area of Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday afternoon. Witnesses reported that the attackers fired multiple shots at Ahmed at his business before stealing cash and other items and fleeing the scene. South African police arrived hours later and began investigating, but no arrests have been made.
The murder is part of a broader pattern of xenophobic violence against Somali immigrants in South Africa. Somali citizens frequently face violence and robbery from local gangs driven by economic competition, social isolation, and inadequate government response.
Xenophobic attacks against immigrants, including Somalis, have been a persistent issue in South Africa since the post-apartheid era. These attacks, often targeting Somali shopkeepers, are driven by accusations of job theft amidst high unemployment and poverty. The influx of immigrants has led to increased competition for limited resources, and the legacy of apartheid continues to influence contemporary xenophobic sentiments.
In 2008, xenophobic violence in South Africa resulted in over 60 deaths and thousands of people being displaced, with ethnic Somalis heavily targeted. In 2015, significant violence erupted in Durban and Johannesburg, leading to multiple fatalities and extensive property damage. More recently, in May 2021, the Khayelitsha Massacre saw thirteen Somali nationals killed in a single day, part of a series of attacks that resulted in at least 24 deaths over several months. In December 2023, two Somali citizens, Abdirahin Hassan Ali and Ibrahim Warsame Ibrahim, were killed in Rustenburg, further highlighting the ongoing violence against Somali shopkeepers.
The violence continued into 2024. On February 1, Somali businessman Mohamed Ahmed Mohamud, known as Mohamed Aderoow, was fatally shot by armed robbers in Cape Town while planning his return to Somalia. The slaying marks a continuation of the xenophobic violence targeting immigrants in South Africa. With assailants still at large and police investigations ongoing, the death toll of Somali nationals continues to rise.
Although arrests are rare, South African police recently apprehended armed gangs responsible for the killing of Somali Uber driver Mohamed Deeq Abdirashid Awowe in Bellville. Awowe was fatally assaulted while driving his car in early February. The Somali community in Bellville played a crucial role in assisting the police, leading to the arrest of the perpetrators, who are now in custody awaiting trial.
Community leaders report well over 1,500 Somalis have been killed over the past two decades. With the latest murder of Omar Abdullahi Ahmed, the number of fatalities among Somali nationals this year alone would be at least twelve. The violence has had devastating effects on the Somali community, resulting in deaths, destruction of property, and a pervasive sense of insecurity. Many Somalis are considering returning to Somalia despite the risks as the situation in South Africa becomes increasingly untenable.