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Stranded in the midst of a civil war in Mogadishu, Somalia, veteran anti-apartheid and constitutional expert Hassen Ebrahim has waited a long time to return home.
Thousands of South Africans are stranded around the world and have called on the government to help them return home, but closing regulations have made this difficult.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor previously said the department was doing everything possible to help them and that it would do so in collaboration with other governments.
Ebrahim is one of these citizens who has requested the help of the department.
Having had a long history as an anti-apartheid activist, Ebrahim was one of the leaders in the ANC underground structures. He also participated in the negotiations around the new South African Constitution in 1992, among other things.
His work as a contractor for the UN took him to Mogadishu last month, where he is providing strategic and policy support for the Somali government.
Speaking to News24, Ebrahim said: “I have worked in post-conflict countries for over 10 years. Some of these countries include Somalia, Zimbabwe, Libya, Yemen, Nepal, the Philippines and Liberia.”
He has spent about a month stranded in Mogadishu at a hotel near the airport, a green area in an area that has seen an increase in mortar attacks in the past year.
“Considering the number and regularity of the attacks, some would classify Mogadishu as effectively a war zone,” said Ebrahim.
“As international workers, we are located in hotels located around the international airport, which is effectively a safe area that some describe as a green zone.”
“Unfortunately, Ramadan is also a month in which al-Shabab is known to launch offensives that hinder security.”
It is a situation that Ebrahim stoically said that “it is always scary … but we live in a war zone. It is the norm here.”
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins on Saturday.
‘I wish this was different‘
Ebrahim has faced challenges during his time in Mogadishu.
Although his mission began in early March, his older brother died a month later, but due to a blockade that was imposed in Mogadishu shortly after his arrival, he has been unable to return home.
The blockade lasted until May, Ebrahim said, leaving him with few options.
“I lost my older brother in South Africa due to health problems on April 8. WhatsApp informed me of his death.
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“In addition to not being able to fulfill my obligations and pay my respects, I have not been able to provide the support that is required of the family.”
Being away from his family during this time “is the hard part,” Ebrahim said, adding: “I wish this was different.”
His return home ticket, scheduled for late March, was canceled and the Mogadishu airport closed.
“I investigated all the possibilities, including the UN and EU flights from Mogadishu. I cannot afford a charter, and there are not enough South Africans here to justify it.”
A ray of hope
Having registered as a stranded citizen in the department, Ebrahim found a ray of hope earlier this week when he was told that a chartered plane from Pakistan would stop in Mogadishu to refuel before heading to South Africa.
“Arrangements were made for me to board the plane and return to SA,” he said.
While the captain of the plane knew that Ebrahim should board, he had strict instructions to follow protocol.
Just before boarding the plane to finally return home, he was rejected.
“[The protocols] included the requirement that passengers must have Covid-19 certificates confirming that they tested negative. Unfortunately, I didn’t know about this requirement. “
He said in Mogadishu, that it was impossible to obtain this certificate since there were no laboratory facilities to provide one.
“All tests performed have their samples shipped to Nairobi and are returned a couple of days later. Unfortunately, the certificate is also of limited time value.”
Survival
While Ebrahim said he had the essentials he needed to survive, he added that he had run out of chronic medications.
“The only challenge is that I am diabetic and suffer from high cholesterol, and dependent on the chronic medication that has just run out.”
“The supply of this drug in Mogadishu is not reliable.”
But Ebrahim is still hopeful that the restrictions will be lifted in early May and the requirement for the Covid-19 negative certificate will be relaxed.
“If not, this could be very serious [problem]”
To keep him sane, he said he was in constant communication with his family.
“This is critical because they are my spine … They find it a little difficult to manage. I just let them know that the situation is difficult.”
“Fortunately, they have been very understanding. I have a truly wonderful wife and children,” said Ebrahim.
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