A professor of history at Savannah State College specialising in Somalia explained in a telephone interview with the DIRB that Reer Hamar in Somali means "people of the city of Mogadishu " (22 Nov. 1996). He further stated that as a group, the Reer Hamar have suffered loss of homes and property because of the war and most are in refugee camps in Kenya (ibid.). This source stated that he was not aware of the recruitment of the Reer Hamar as mercenaries for US$50.00 by Aideed (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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Professor of history, Savannah State College, Savannah, Georgia. 22 November 1996. Telephone interview with the DIRB.

Afrique/Asie [Paris]. Monthly.

Africa Confidential [London]. Weekly.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [London]. Monthly.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1995. 1996.

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. Monthly.

New African [London]. Monthly.

News from Africa Watch [New York]. Monthly.

West Africa [London]. Weekly.