Somalia: Information on any government order or decree requiring citizens to apply for and obtain their Somali ID cards (warqadda aqoonsiga) to facilitate military conscription or call up in 1986 or 1987
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SOM22179.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Somalia: Information on any government order or decree requiring citizens to apply for and obtain their Somali ID cards (warqadda aqoonsiga) to facilitate military conscription or call up in 1986 or 1987, 1 November 1995, SOM22179.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac058c.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on this subject could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.
According to Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1987 and 1986, "military press gangs are often used to provide 'recruits' for the army, " however, additional information is not provided (1988, 266; 1987, 269).
World Human Rights Guide states in both the 1987 and 1986 editions that "there is forcible military conscription where men are reluctant to fight ...", but no additional information is provided (1987, 244; 1986, 247).
Amnesty International reported in September 1988 that "conscription is not applied systematically but arbitrary 'round-ups' of men of conscription age (18-40) have often been reported" (Sept. 1988, 16).
In February 1986, Africa Confidential reported that the Somali government had announced that "students who failed to report for military service by 15 February would not receive high school certificates or other documents needed for government jobs (26 Feb. 1986, 7). The same report also stated that about 50 per cent of the men corralled in conscription round ups were able "to buy their way out" of military service (ibid.).
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 sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Africa Confidential [London]. 26 February 1986. Vol. 27, No. 5. "Somalia: Towards an Ogaden Pact?"
Amnesty International. September 1988. Somalia: A Long-Term Human Rights Crisis. London: Amnesty International.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1987. 1988. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1986. 1987. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
World Human Rights Guide. 1987. Compiled by Charles Humana. London: The Economist.
World Human Rights Guide. 1986. Compiled by Charles Humana. London: Pan Books.
Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential. 1986-87.
Amnesty International Report. 1987-88.
Critique: Review of the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. 1986-87.
Human Rights Watch World Report. 1986-87.
Keesing's Record of World Events. 1986-87.
News from Africa Watch.
Oral sources.
