August 29, 2012 · 94 Comments
ARLINGTON, Va. — A U.S. judge has awarded $21 million to seven people who had sued a former prime minister of Somalia now living in Virginia, claiming he had tortured and killed his own people.
The judgment against Mohamed Ali Samantar of Fairfax comes at the end of an eight-year legal battle that went to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Seven Somali natives filed the lawsuit in 2004 in federal court in Alexandria against Samantar, now 76. He served as vice president, defense minister and prime minister throughout the 1980s under Dictator Siad Barre, until the months before the regime collapsed in 1991.
The suit claimed that Samantar personally ordered the killings and torture of members of a minority clan in Somalia.
Samantar denied the accusations and claimed immunity from the lawsuit. On the day the trial was to begin, he entered a default judgment. That means he accepted legal liability for the killings, but he denied wrongdoing and said he never approved any slayings.
He is currently in bankruptcy.
Samantar told The Associated Press in February that he could no longer afford the costly litigation, and that his failing health made it difficult for him to defend himself. He also said the case was politically motivated and served only to further divide Somalia as officials worked to reunite the country.
“I worked 40 years for my country,” he said after entering the default judgment, speaking to the AP through a translator. “I was faithful to my country and abided by the law.”
His lawyers made similar arguments, but the Obama administration said the case would not harm international relations.
By: Awale Ahmed Awale
Source:The Associated Press
Follow @somalilandpressBy goth Mohamed
Tags: America, Genocide, Said Barre regime, Somaliland
It was never about the money, it was about justice. Pity he will not serve time in one of the US finest institutions. One down, so many to go.
nacalaa baa faqash iyo intii taageertay xasuuqii reer isaaq ba kuyaal waar waxan anigu waxba uma aqane aynu aar goosano oo xitaa midgaha cagta marino his time bal eega qurjiile waynu cafinay hadana iyakiibaaba isla wanaagsan xitaa waxaan aamin sanahay in laga sifeeyo ciida reer isaaq cidii aan isaaq ciise iyo biyamaal ahany oo inooga hiiliyay dhagar qabe afweyne walaaladeena ah xitaa idho biijada yaan la dhaafin dadkii la xasuuqay halo soo aaro end of xaley waxaan akhristay warqad ay ku qoranayeen dembiilayaashii dadkeena xasuuqay magac yadoodii iyo qabiilkooda daarood wuu ku dhamaa samaroon waa ku jirtay hawiye waa ku jireen haxanweyn waa ku jireen xitaa barwaani baa ku jiray markaasay kaaga darane markay snm ka adkaadeen south africaan u dalbadeen inay xasuuqaan shicibkeenii goormaynu wax isku noqonay faqash iyo waxay cago ku jiitaan ma markaynu inagu wax noqonay
mislovey.
we are worried about your welfare.
I understand your anger walaal but we don't want revenge we just want justice served against the perpetrators and to live in peace. Look what revenge did to Aideed's USC.
loool Miss hatred calm down, eye for an eye makes the whole world blind, lets hope war will never come back to Somalia, look at Europeans after so many wars now they are all bodies. midakale if you want revenge dee Qabil isku kaa dhigaya majiro everyone will defend themselves and will only lead us to bloody civil war all over again is that what you want for the North?
mislovey.,she is lonely alone desprate lock up somewhere someone have to resquie her The soone The better.
silly butthurt landers…waar get over it , you can't even touch his hairline lol
dar00d scum. dar00d should die
Ahmed Darwish
You are just a trash and a criminal too. Imagine if Somalilanders go after your scumbags in buhoodle and do exactly what this guy and your asshole afweyne grandfather did to them? And by the way they have those means now.Luckily enough isaaqs are civilized people they are not going to that and they didn't do it when the Snm took back their country from those hyena eating warthogs.
Lastly there are more of these criminals on the waiting list and sooner or later they will all face courts around the world for their heinous crimes committed against innocent people.
You too have to watch out because what you say or write in public forums might be used against for damages jahil yahaw
Long life Somaliland and down with fagash qadmun.
@odhayoxuneey.
Now your Threaning people.well,take your medication.
you all deluded kids you can't say a sentence without adding Darood, siad bare or how hargaisa got bombed. Move on for God's grean earth.
odhayaxuneey nacas Buuhoodle is the holy place in somalia they deafed you more 6 times in this year. we could hear the crying in Hargiesa when we enjoy popcorns in Lascanod. SNM were nothing but scumbags who used thier people as bullet shield.
you must be twisted minded id@@r.
dar00ds are well know for their scumness. dar00ds are evil animals who should be castereted. and their women should be raped by ethiopians and other africans as a punishment
Sick sick person you are. Go to your mum she can teach you about your deen n daqan. Inkaar goes around and comes aroud to the same sick sick evil person.
@ maska
Now proud Abdiaziz and Bashe can put the fight to rest and enjoy a well earned sigh of relief. And Abdiaziz in particular can take deep sleep from the ordeal and tragic death of his innocent dad went through into the hands of the most ruthless dictator Africa has ever known. Kudos Abdiaziz and Bashe.
you guys make my day….long Live Somaliland.
He can always apply to the UN or Mahiga to become an MP in the Zoomalia "parliament".
Let the crack down of the perpetrators continue until they are either dead or caught!
I still remember, the day Mr. Samater held the press conference in London and openly acknowledged that himself had ordered the obliteration of the Hargeisa city and other major towns in Somaliland. Perhaps, it would have been better for him, if he had to argue that himself was a victim of that regime instead of denying the hideous crimes he had publicly admitted, as we all knew, Samater had no power or courage to execute such atrocities of that magnitude alone.
i think his children and grand children should pay. they should be executed before his eyes
That sounds good,what goes around comes around i say lol
Now that Fugitive Samater ultimately met the justice and paying back for his criminal history,
who's next in line. We all know that Samater's not the only one who committed genocide
atrocities during the Brutal Regime of Gen. Siad Barre. We shouldn't waste much time on
Samater but go after the others as well. Am glad justice has been served and looking forward
that other cases would follow suit in due course.
Cheers.
It's a symbolic case. They are not getting any money; the guy can't afford it.
The money and others to follow could be paid out by the brutal Regimes overseas probably
in Swiss banks. Btw are there any overseas A/Cs held up in the names of the ousted Gen.Barre
Regime in 1991? There must be Somali money somewhere in the Overseas IC big
banks? Bloggers your comments pls.
Cheers.
i believe there some money stashed away in overseas A/Cs, but those leaders together with their close relatives were so dumb, I don't think they have the tact or know-how on how to get their hands to that cash!
salaams
What a worthless criminal. He brought nothing but shame to his family and all Somalis.
All perpetrators will be caught and brought to justice. Mr.Glayd, Morgan and Suleiman Dafleh should be next .
Osman Qaal
you are so blinded with the fact that you think anyone from your tribe is never wrong, SMH do you think Sii'lanyo should be taken to court for crimes against humanity for the hundreds of people that died in the SSC regions, and don't tell me this dude is not responsible for the many innocent people that died there past year.
You must understand the topic we're discussing here! There were thousands of SNM fighters who lost their lives during the armed struggle against Siad Barre's forces and the topic here isn't about the casualties of those two well armed opposing forces which each of them had a special mission to carry out., hence, in the case of SSC rebels that you have mentioned here falls under that category because they were armed and were ready to die for what they believed in.
However, the the topic we have here is a rather different scenario, and it's about an unarmed civilians massacred under their own homes by their own government simply because of their origins. so, this case against Ali Samater is related to this topic and was filed by a few relatives of those perished in that particular atrocities.
Anyway, I know many Somalis who were happy to see and took part of those atrocities and even today ready to defend the perpetrators at all costs and at the same time, pretend to be good Somalis who wish reconciliation and unity among the Somalis. They easily say, let's forget about the past and do it again. I wonder what these kinds of creatures think about the people who lost their love ones in those hideous atrocities? Do they think they are crazy as they are?
Guess what! the pot calls the kettle black. You're taking your uncontrollable anger on me because I've mentioned Galayd, Morgan and Dafleh in my comments. As a matter of facts, There's an outstanding arrest warrant for Mr. Galayd in North America. Perhaps you'll be lucky enough to see his arrest on one of the American most wanted episodes.
Osman Qaal
lool Don't start acting clever with me i'm not the one who's angery here, if those three men you mentioned are criminals, they must be taken to court and prooven guilty. I understand Morgan and ina Dafleh were part of prevous government and sons in-law of Said barre But to my knowledge the only crime you have gainst pro Galaydh is because he doesn't support your little Garadag project. and also what pisses me off is that you know the fact Sii'layo is a war criminal but you don't want admit it. hypocrisy at its finest.
Trust me, I have all the facts and am well prepared to use it to my advantage. Mr. Galayd is a fish big now, he can run all he wants but he can't hide, hence he's a member of parliament in troubled Somalia, not to mention the paper trails he left behind to gain his current status.
He has been on radar of the international crime watchers for quite sometime.
We're living in a global village you got to learn how the modern world works. I'm not bluffing.
Osman Qaal
hahaha bring it on Qaali, I know he's part of Somali PM because we put him there and he's not running, he's helping his country. I wouldn't defend him if he was guilty but you're just accusing him.
You put him there, really? He robbed you blind by telling you what you would like to hear. It was all lies and deception. I have video evidence of the money he collected in Copenhagen, Denmark a few months ago. I'm telling Mr. Galayd has been on my list as a person of interest for quite sometime.
Osman Qaal
you know what Osman do what you have to do, u really don't know Galayd at all. plus you don't have to have money to be a member of somalia parliament, it all based on clan remember.
by telling you what you would like to hear and what's that exactly?
anyway it's just political we all have different opinions so no need to be gloomy cheer up a little looool
the reason why I like Dhulos girls they are outspoken, understanding and extremely beautiful but the problem is with your men they have new faces everyday xeer maqabtaana majiro, meeshana rabshada inooka daa inabti
It's all politics.. I guess, we should leave it in that way. No hard feelings. dido…
Osman Qaal
lol I think we should, here I waved my white flag.
I solute you for your sound judgement. Kudos to you..
Osman Qaal
Crazzy id@@ros give a break The lady mate most of you sound like wild animals.
Loool Tanni your funny, thanks walalo but we were just having normal discussion.
I dont want this guy, I want Morgan! Just send him to Hargeisa or Burco for me and record a video and my life is complete loool
lool send them to burco because reer burco are feisty probably rip him apart in the first minute
more like you had affair with the a white dude…
subhanallah dnt say thinks lyk dat
looooooooooooooool dar00d geezer you are funny. i hate dar00ds but you are funny. but stop that nasty stuff with the white dudes
Dear puntlandgeezer
The grestes leader who ever walked on this earth is Prophet Mohammed (saw)
Yeah i kno prophet Mohammed (saw) being the greatest but I was just pissin with these landers.
Kkkkkkkkkkkk kaboon can thrink our blood
looool look at Puntland geezer's comment he is even worse then kaboon. He celebrates the genocide of hargeisa that's why samatar is his greatest leader
amal
what do you expect of dar00ds like puntlandgeezer. dar00ds became something on the back of the tax that was collected from iss@Q bussines men. when iss@qs were being repressed those were the best years of the dar00ds and that was when they became something.
look at all the comments supporting this criminal and you will see they are written by dar00ds only. haw!ye also should sue former criminls who also made them go through hell.
amount of ignorance here woow, This hate has to end with us young people loool
What do you expect from uneducated people? Who only here to spread hate.
Yes you are right we the young people should bring about change NOT follow the footsteps of the older generation and go in circles. every nation develops and outgrows from their ignorance it's time we did the same and stop the hate
that's to khaatumo citizen
Amal agree with u 100%
Money can't pay for what the Siad Bare regime has done to Somali people but this little settlement might help victims of Siad and his foot soldier Samatar make themselves a better life in North America.
Samatar is broke and on welfare, he is not paying for the $21m, the US government is because it's them that gave shelter to a criminal. Samatar might be locked up and this is also warning for other Somali criminals including Silaanyo, Al Shabab, warlords, dictators. It is not on.
kaboon one sick animal
sahra, your right kkkk,kaboon it’s not animal but double animal.
good job those who brought the lawsuit
TO:all concern.
I don’t Think The guy has 21 million it’s just formality to shut This case once for all.it will be unlikely he will go to prison because of his age and ill health,Also his lawyres want to appeal
Any somali person who is responsible any wrong doing to somali society should be brought to justice.already They are more THAN fifty persons wanted 15 haw*ye,7 dar@@d,5 is@@q,7 digil-mirifle.
correction..more Than Thirty four persons wanted,
Honestly we need to be doing more and in every country these mofos are living in. After that we should ask for deportation into the hands of Somaliland where they can be executed in front of what is left of the people they have tried to wipe off the face of the earth.
That will be show our people back home and every Somali that this is what happens why you try to kill innocent civilians etc…. The problem with Africa is mofos just get away with things and there is no consequences that is why to this day idiots online will still talk as if nothing happened. We need to end this once and for all. Morgan should be next, I issue a Isaaq fatwa and every business man who is Isaaq should give money for whoever brings his head!
comeagain.
He’s untouchable if go near him you will be shot on sight.
ComeAgain, you are right. I can't believe they say we are full of hate when the like of faqash leader Morgan is walking around safe in their shelter and so many of them support and defend perpetrators. I say we should not stop until he is brought to justice. Forget prison or money Morgan needs to be hanged or assassinated.
I started following this individual's case about a year ago in Virginia. When I found out that he is Gaboyee, I told myself that he had little or no power to change the course of the alleged actions he was accused of, but merely taking directives from Siyad Barre. Let me ask this question, wasn't Sillanyo, Ibrahim Egal (I think that is the name), et al, part of the pogrom that led to Somalia's demise? Why are no Northerners held accountable for the atrocities committed on the Somali people? You can add Mr. Rayale to the equation. Lastly, I knew nothing of Gaboyee people until I discovered this site. – they are persecuted bunch.
On a different note: Is Ahmed Ibrahim Egal, frequent op-ed contributor to this site, the son of Mr. Egal? Though I do not share the same political views, contextually, his writings are almost impeccable.
you are not jabutawi or from djabouti. you are probably some fake dar00d claiming to be from djabuti so he gets away with insulting people
Kaboon or Baboon, Why don't you answer my questions in a civilized manner like Marcus or keep your dirty mouth shut? I am fake Djiboutian PARCE QUE JE PARLE ANGLAIS TRES BIEN? In Djibouti we are multi-lingual. You must be Isaaq-Habashi and not Isaaq-Somali. Ask Kayse about the difference.
@Jabuutawi
"Let me ask this question, wasn't Sillanyo, Ibrahim Egal (I think that is the name), et al, part of the pogrom that led to Somalia's demise?"
Not sure what you mean by the 'program that led to Somalia's demise' if you mean they had responsibility for killing people innocent or otherwise in the Somali regime the answer no. Egal was imprisoned for the most part of his rule by Siyad and Silaanyo although a long-time minister was an economist and not in anyway connected to the military/security apparatus. (If you are alluding to his stint as head of the SNM, I know very little about that episode)
In the case of General Samatar I do not think he can claim he was just following orders nor has he done so, he has being convicted of committing crimes by a US court who cares little for white clan he hails from minority or otherwise.
"Why are no Northerners held accountable for the atrocities committed on the Somali people? You can add Mr. Rayale to the equation."
It is important to understand one point, the decision to file a case against General Samatar is not the collective decision of a group but the choice of a some individuals, the choice to sue and responsibility for his conviction is with them alone. As for Mr Riyaale, no one has accused him of any credible crimes he has ruled and lives in Somaliland and all that time no one has made a serious complaints.
Should some northerners be taken in front of a court, no doubt there some guilty northerns, I for one wont be filling a case, and for the rest of my Isaaq clan, well we just do not have a central committee that decides on such matters!
Yes Ahmed Ibrahim Egal is the son of the late Somali prime minister and Somaliland president ce of a group of individuals
it's just me or some Somalilanders are really confused people, they made their criminals like Dahir Riyaale a former secret service agent and Sii'laanyo a warlord that took part in the habar isaq wars into presidents but wanna target a guy who hails from a M@dhibaan clan. if Samatar was part of a major clan like D@@rod or Haw!yee there would not be a court case just because his a minority, SMH
I bet y'all feeling good about yourselves now please the dude was just taking orders
somalia was excatly like libya, half of the somali men are criminals i'm not agaisnt justice or anything, but I beleive everyone that took part in the civil war should face justice.
it's just me or some Somalilanders are really confused people, they made their criminals like Dahir Riyaale a former secret service agent and Sii'laanyo, a warlord that took part in the habr isaaq wars into presidents but wanna target a guy who hails from a M@dhibaan clan. if Samatar was part of a major clan like D@@rod or H@wiyee there would not be a court case just because his a minority, SMH
I bet y'all feeling good about yourselves now please the dude was just taking orders
somalia was excatly like libya, half of the somali men are criminals i'm not agaisnt justice or anything, but I beleive everyone that took part in the civil war should face justice.
Khaatumo,well said.
TAKING ORDERS? WAS HE A SIAD BARRE'S SLAVE??? ..NO, HE WAS CONSCIOUS OF WHAT HE WAS DOING, AND HE WAS THE PRIME MINISTER ORDERING MASS KILLING OF HIS OWN PEOPLE! ..HE SHOULD BE SENTENCED TO DEATH!
These people Samatar and especially morgan were not just taking orders they were in charge of the military and were high officials. they were even worse than siad barre because siad barre had a fear of being rejected and challenged or losing power typical dictator and he used his tribe. Being minority don't make any difference but I will say forget him now but Morgan is the biggest one. Morgan should be brought to justice in court. The justice of Allah is the best one though.
actually morgan should be assassinated secretly as it is halal to do so – that sc*m must be stabbed to death quickly
i think this mug is a tumaal minority clanman and not a gabooye as others believe. however morgan is the main target now i believe he is in kenya landers be aware and get your weapons out
AL- XAWYAAN,can’t go near him you will be shot on sight.expect silanyo and others will be hunted down like rats.
DON'T WORRY, AL-XAWAYS HAVE THEIR COUNTRY BACK, OUR BELOVED SOMALILAND ..YOU CAN LOOK AFTER MORGAN AND HIS LIKES!!
WE PROMISE THAT, MORGAN WILL NEVER SET FOOT IN HARGEYSA, AS HE IS THE ONE WHO WAS CHASED AWAY LIKE A RAT, JUST LIKE YOUR DAD …LOL!
I BELIEVE HE/YOU CONSIDER SOMALILAND AS A SOMALI COUNTRY! ..LOL!
OH, WELL, IN YOUR DREAMS MR REFUGEES, HYENA EATING DUMB-ASS!
control your self bro you sound like someone released from psychaitric hospital.
i am in control …Somaliland is back in our hands ..all the way to FREEEDOOOM !! ..Can't wait for that UN member states seat ..inshaaalah!
IF SOUTH AFRICA's LEGAL OFFICE CAN UNDERLINE THAT SOMALILAND HAS ALL THE LEGAL RIGHT's, WELL WHO ARE YOU??
It’s unlikely member seat in The UN.so,don’t waste your time in That issue.
well, i can't wait to see your face when the day comes ..when we are independent SOMALILAND gain, inshaalah!
dar00ds are ill on the inside.
The importance of this case is to show the international Somali community that we can still get some justice, instead of debating on internet forums. I followed this story ever since I read it on NY times a few years back, I remembered people just saying that they won’t achieve anything and they are just doing it for a name. Huge respect to Bashe Abdi Yusuf, Amina Farah Jire and rest of the guys involved in case. They were just a bunch of normal civilians – nothing special.
After spilling blood, raping our mothers and stealing our money, should these war criminals act like nice old men and pick up welfare checks?!? I hope there are more communities who take a stand to the years of injustice.
No doubt he is The best military strategist know to somalis. but UNFORTUNATELY when dictatorship clinch to power and turn into own people it’s very sad/bad.
best military strategist? ..and he is a refugee in a foreign country? ..oh, please, the guy is just a dumb ass ..it does not need a military strategist to know that you need to defend a country from foreign invaders, and not attack the people you were educated to defend!
for me he is just a looser, a prime minister who is responsible to the collapse of his country and is now living as a refugee in USA claiming USA-tax-payers-money!! ..BIG LOOSER!
**a prime minister who is responsible FOR the collapse of his country and is now living as a refugee in USA claiming USA-tax-payers-money!! ..BIG LOOSER!
Ninkii khayrkii loo xiirayoow soo qoyso
The killing and atrocities against the isaaq is already in the past but what saddens me are those who are still supporting and defending them yet want Somalinomo and unity. Allah will bring full justice now or later. the likes of Morgan are still walking around freely after what they done.
All somalis kill each other The is@@q case is no different at all.That’s The way IC sees and all somalis.
وعقبال بقية العصابة والممجرمين في الصومال
Somalia was destroyed by ingnorant Somalis who couldn't differentiate between State and its officials. SNM, SSDF and USC must be brought to justice. They rope our youthhood. they were a bunch of murderous monkeys, that destroyed the somali democratic republic.
Samatar is a somali hero, he did what he had to do.
This judgment against General mohamed ali samantar is historic event, to all human being
I am also filling suit against general Mohamed ali samater for the Genocide he made to my people and I hope the judgement will be first degree Murderer and the punishment will be by hanging in the public and all people to see the person who made genocide to our beloved people may their Soul rest in Peace Amiin. Another person to follow for the presecution is General Morgan We know he is hidding but we will get him Inshallah the law will take it is Stream donot think we have forgotten. and other people are insisting on unity what unity have they lost their mind. We will never ever come into unity for ever and they should stop thinking about it as they are wasting there Time.