News Update From El Wak District November 14, 2007

 On November 12, 2007, muralle gunmen raided a Gharri manatta at afan Chabi Barki, near Rhamo killed and dismembered the head of Manatta Mr. Mussow Omar. four others were seriously injured including the deceased man’s wife, his sister, a 2 year old infant who was only identified as the son of Mr. Yusuf Geljiro, and a man by the name of Moalin Billow. According to a  report received from Rhamo, the Rhamo Police department received numerous reports prior to the raid that the Muralle organized gangsters from Babo and Sala locations were about to raid Gharri Manatta. However, the Rhamo police department personnel failed to act on the information received. So, the police chief, and his sergeant have been suspended and the rest of police officers have been told to stay away, and not to be involved in any kind of investigative activities.  The El Wak and Mandera District Commissioners were in Rhamo and requested the Gharri community leaders to calmdown and asked  for their patience.

 The names of those criminals have been provided and the authorities promised to capture them and bring them to justice. they already  brought in Mandera and El Wak O.C.S and the head of the military stationed in Mandera area to carry on a criminal investigative activities, and other police duties. They promised to capture and hand down stiff penalties for those criminals and their organizers.

 Also, it was reported that the reason for the raid said to be due to a land dispute. The Muralle claimed that the Gharri herders crossed the road that divides the two communities which is a road that connects Mandera and Rhamo. Rhamo and El Wak. They are claiming that east of the alleged road is theirs. Therefore, the Gharri people illegally crossed it without their permission, and also, they are refusing to leave. However, the Gharri people are saying no such border exists. The only officially recognized border between the Gharri and the Muralle is Kuntural road.

 Viva Gharri

November 14,  2007 by Gur Gharri GSG News contributor ,