Document #1212727
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
A historian specializing in Somali history
and politics at Savannah State College in Savannah, Georgia
explained that most clans in Somalia claim to be of Arab descent
(12 Feb. 1997). He stated that most Lahji live in Bari but there
are also large Lahji communities along the coasts of Djibouti and
Somalia, particularly, in Mogadishu and Kismayo (ibid.). He also
stated that coastal Somalis have close physical resemblance to
Arabs (ibid.). He further explained that the Lahji claim an
affinity to Yemen because they can trace their descent to Lahji
region of Yemen (ibid.). The historian disputes this claim,
however, stating that there is insufficient evidence to support it.
He explained that Somalis have historically tended to migrate to
Saudi Arabia rather to Yemen because of friction between Yemen and
previous Somali governments, and because Somalis have not felt
"welcome" in Yemen (ibid.).
This source stated that the relationships
between Somali Arab clans and the Darods and Isaaqs are not
conflictual because the latter also claim to be of Arab descent
(ibid.). However, he emphasized that this is not the case with the
Hawiye clans of the south, who "despise and abuse" Somali clans
that claim to be of Arab ancestry (ibid.).
This information was corroborated by a
researcher specializing in Somali politics at the U.S. Institute
for Peace in Washington, DC (12 Feb. 1997). This source stated that
the Hawiye clans forced Somali Arabs to leave Somalia and seek
refugee in Mombasa, Kenya and Yemen (ibid.). He stated, however,
that Somali Arab clans did not have a "good reception" in Yemen
(ibid.). For information on the treatment of Somalis in Yemen,
please consult Responses to SOM25496.E of 16 December 1996 and
SOM22010.E of 18 October 1995, which are available at Regional
Documentation Centres.
With regard to relationships between the
Somali Arab clans and the Darod and Isaaq clans, this source
provided contradictory information. He stated that the Somali Arabs
are a coastal people and have "nothing to do with Isaaqs and
Darods" (ibid.). He also stated that Siad Barre was "brutal" to
them and when his regime fell, "they lost property" and their women
"were raped." (ibid.). This information could not be corroborated
by sources currently available to the DIRB.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Historian specializing in Somali history
and politics, Savannah State College, Savannah, Georgia. 12
February 1997. Telephone interview.
Researchers specializing in Somali
politics, U.S. Institute for Peace, Washington, DC. 12 February
1997. Telephone interview.