Ethiopian soldiers beat, rape Somali woman

March 13, 2007 (MOGADISHU) — A Somali woman has today revealed at a press conference in Mogadishu that she was beated and raped by two Ethiopian soldiers, reported the Somali independent Shabeelle media.

Suban Maalin Ali Hassan, 37-year-old mother of eight children talked to journalists with presence of her husband inside her house over the ordeal she faced last Saturday 10 March as she was on her way near Elirfid, north east of Mogadishu.

“Last Saturday, as I was driving my donkey-cart loaded with grass near Elirfid settlement, two Ethiopians armed with AK 47 came straight at me suddenly after they come out of a detour. They stopped me under gun-point and forcibly held me to the ground and then everything went against my willing,” said Suban, while weeping.

Suban said the Ethiopian soldiers did everything to her, including rape and beatings. “After they were done with me, they told me to walk off and not to look back, threatening they will kill me if I do glance back to take a good look at them,” Suban said.

Ahmed Ali Hassan, husband of Suban also spoke to the newsmen said, “My wife was raped and tortured by Ethiopian soldiers so that I am calling on everyone who can help to rush to our help.”

The husband also said that he took his wife to Keysaney hospital, one of the major hospitals in Mogadishu for check up.

“Doctors at Keysaney advised us not to have an intercourse for six months to find out whether my wife was infected with HIV. Also the doctor counseled my wife not to breastfeed our youngest baby during the six-month period,” said Ahmed.

The news came as Ethiopian premier, Meles Zenawi, told the press that the remaining Ethiopian troops would be withdrawn from Somalia immediately. “We are looking forward to withdraw our left two third troops,” he said.

(Shabeelle)