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SNWO gives 24-hour ultimatum over women’s house dispute, accuses minister of improper seizure
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    Friday December 13, 2024


    Minister Bashir Goobe (left) and Somali National Women’s Organization Chairlady Batula Sheikh Ahmed Gabelle (right) at the center of the escalating dispute over the Women’s House in Mogadishu.

    Mogadishu (HOL) — The Somali National Women's Organization (SNWO) has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development to vacate the Women's House in Mogadishu, alleging improper seizure of the premises by its Minister, Bashir Goobe. 

    The demand, detailed in a statement released on Thursday, comes on the heels of escalating tensions over control of the property.

    The Women's House has long been a vital hub for the Somali National Women's Organization, serving as a space for advocacy and programs dedicated to women's empowerment. However, SNWO Chairlady Batula Sheikh Ahmed Gabelle accused Minister Goobe of attempting to seize the property through "misuse of government authority," according to the statement.

    "This building is not just a property; it represents decades of work and progress for Somali women," Gabelle said, emphasizing the symbolic importance of the space.

    The SNWO's statement demanded that the ministry immediately cease operations at the Women's House and remove all belongings within 24 hours. Failure to comply, the organization warned, would result in the minister bearing full responsibility for any consequences.

    The standoff over the Women's House follows months of criticism aimed at the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development, which was controversially renamed the Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development in July. Activists argue that removing "women" from the title erases the ministry's specific focus on addressing the challenges faced by Somali women, instead generalizing them under the broader concept of "family."

    Fathiya Absie, a prominent Somali author and human rights activist, described the renaming as a "step backward" for women's rights in Somalia. "This is part of a pattern where women's voices are being erased," she said.

    The backlash intensified earlier this year when photos from a United Nations women's conference in New York showed Minister Goobe and other male delegates representing Somalia. Critics accused the government of sidelining women at an event meant to highlight their voices. While the delegation included two women, their absence from the widely circulated photos underscored perceptions of a government prioritizing men in decision-making roles on women's issues.

    The dispute over the Women's House has drawn attention to challenges facing Somali women, who have historically played integral roles in peacebuilding and governance during the country's decades-long conflict. Despite these contributions, women remain underrepresented in Somalia's political and institutional leadership.

    "This attempt to seize the Women's House is emblematic of a larger issue: the government's failure to prioritize women's empowerment," Gabelle said.

    The SNWO's ultimatum reflects a growing frustration among women's rights advocates, who see the government's recent actions as a pattern of marginalization.

    Minister Goobe has defended his ministry's actions, stating that the Women's House was formally transferred to the ministry by the Prime Minister's Office. He also argued that the renaming of the ministry reflects an effort to address family-wide issues comprehensively rather than focusing narrowly on women's concerns.

    His supporters argue that leadership experience, regardless of gender, should be the primary qualification for ministerial roles. 

     





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