CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Two Somali nationals have been killed in a wave of ongoing xenophobic violence in the South African East Cape region in the past 48 hours.
According to the eyewitnesses, Abdulkadir Moalim Maareye and Hassan Hamoud Jaras were attacked in their shop in rural villages by South African gangs and killed in a brutal way.
Police arrived at the crime scene and carried out an investigation but no arrests were made for the killing of the two young men, who used to run shops on the outskirts of Cape Town.
The armed black gangs continue to raid business premises owned by foreigners, including Somalis, arguing the migrants are looting their job opportunities in their country.
About 1,500 Somalis have been killed in xenophobic attacks in South Africa in the past two decades, according to community leaders, who spoke to Radio Shabelle over the phone.
The biggest national wave of xenophobic violence swept South Africa in 2008 when more than 60 people were killed, but Somali traders say the pressure is constant.
South Africa’s government has been inactive towards the xenophobia attacks until last year when troops dispersed and arrested hundreds of youths who were trying to attack foreigners-owned businesses.
