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Epidemic levels of rape in Somalia have captured international attention after human rights activists raised the alarm. The Somali capital of Mogadishu in particular, shows a spike in reported rapes with this winter terrifyingly dubbed the “season of rape.” The New York Times reported extensively in late December about the widespread sexual assault of women and girls by militants, as well as “rogue militiamen,” and government troops. The Times also reported on the stoning to death of a young girl who refused to marry an Al-Shabaab commander, and her 17 year old friend who was subsequently gang raped. Women and girls are being preyed upon within and outside refugee camps, many being forced to marry commanders for a few weeks in what is being described as “sexual slavery.” The Transitional Federal Government in Somalia is struggling to assert itself in the capital after battling militants affiliated with Al Shabaab. The government’s weak control has created an insecurity which provides cover for increased rapes. Adding to the high number of armed men in the capital are more than 10,000 troops from neighboring African countries including Uganda and Burundi which are there to bolster the Somali government against militants. Additionally, the mass displacement of thousands of people which started over the summer, and an on-going famine, has exacerbated the situation. More than 2,500 reports of sexual assault have been reported in Mogadishu alone in just the past two months – this number is likely to be a severe underestimate because of the fear and stigma associated with rape. There is plenty of political turmoil in the mix with fist fights breaking out in the Somali parliament in recent days over disputes regarding a roadmap agreed upon by stakeholders. In December, Transitional Federal Government President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and others signed an agreement specifying the structure of a permanent government at a Constitutional Conference in Northern Somalia.

GUEST: Laetitia Bader, a Researcher with Human Rights Watch

Visit www.hrw.org for more information.