MOGADISHU, 27 January 2005 — Abdullah Hassan Firimbi, the governor of Somalia’s Banadir region, strongly condemned yesterday the recent desecration of Italian graves in Mogadishu. Last week, hooligans dug up the remains of Italian expatriates buried in a colonial-era cemetery in the city. He said that his regional government and Mogadishu residents had strongly condemned what he called a repulsive and criminal act.
Speaking to Arab News, Firimbi said Mogadishu residents held a large demonstration on Saturday to protest the violation. “The residents have loudly condemned the desecration. They believe that unidentified criminals, who do not represent any entity, have destroyed the graves,” he said.
The governor said the criminals have just showed that they want to ruin the relations between the new Somali government and Italy. “This new government needs financial help from the Italian government. We know that certain people who oppose the new government want the Italian government not to help Somalia. Those criminals do not want the government to succeed. We hope that the desecration will not harm relations between Somalia and Italy,” he said.
The Italian government has condemned the incident, calling it a “barbarous, vile, hateful act.”
Somalia was an Italian colony until it gained independence in July 1960.
Last Week, unknown gunmen shot and killed the chief of the national police force Gen. Yusuf Ahmed Sarinle. The assassination of the general was the latest in a string of attacks that have targeted senior military and police officials in Mogadishu.
Asked about the relocation of the headquarters of the new Somali government, which is now based in Kenya, Firimbi said despite the recent escalation of violence in the city efforts are under way to shift the capital to Mogadishu by early February.
