Lights in tunnel: Syrian refugees find comfort in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - When the war broke out in Damascus and in its environs, many people may have expected Syrians to take refuge in Europe, America, or in the neighboring countries such as Jordan but this may not be entirely true.

Although a number of them may have flown to the aforementioned areas, a number of them chose Somalia, another country that has been engulfed in civil war, political unrest, and terrorism for many decades. It's not one of those destinations one would think of.

If you walk around the streets of Mogadishu, there is no doubt that you'll come across Ashamia restaurant, which is a popular eatery in Somalia, that is owned by a Syrian refugee. It's frequented by both Somalis and people from other diverse backgrounds.

Zekeriye Azerkan, a Syrian refugee who also doubles as the manager of the eatery, told Voice of America that he finds the country "safe" contrary to what many people think of. According to him, there are many Syrian refugees in Mogadishu and across Somalia.

"Even though Somalia is emerging from conflicts of civil war. There are Syrian dentists who have opened clinics here and even other medics who operate various specialties in Somalia," says Azerkan, who also works as a chef in the restaurant. "I expect other Syrian refugees will find opportunities here in Somalia."

This restaurant has become an iconic meeting place for all Syrian refugees, with many of them coming for orientation. It's here that they gather before being introduced to life in Somalia, which also has its own fair share of challenges.

In fact, the restaurant is even frequented by Somalis, some of who are eager to learn the culture of the country and the effects of the wars. Somalia has struggled with political upheavals but lately, it's immersed in the rising of insurgency, with Al-Shabaab being the leading group.

"I urge Syrian immigrants and even Somalis to visit this restaurant the food here is so natural. It makes me feel as if I am home," says Mohamed Musa, a 13-year-old refugee who had visited the restaurant to meet new arrivals in town.

For Mohamud Saleh, a dental surgeon, Somalia has become more like a home having stayed there for close to five years. This has in fact helped him establish a dental clinic which enables him to work for the locals in the Horn of Africa nation.

"I now consider myself a Somali citizen having stayed here for four years with my wife and children who are attending schools in Somalia. We are following Somali lives and my family finds it cool in this place," he notes.

Abdulwahab Sheikh, a scholar, notes that the relationship between Syria and Somalia dates back many years, adding that bilateral ties that have existed in as many years have made it easier for Syrians to settle in the Horn, which is also struggling with internal challenges.

But it's the lack of visa restrictions, he adds, that makes many Syrians choose Somalia over any other destinations. The lack of visa restrictions is bolstered by the fact that the two nations share a social-economic and political history that has lasted for decades.

"There is a long-term relationship between the two countries that began long ago. When Syria was engulfed in civil war, many of her citizens opted to come to Somalia due to lack of visa restrictions," notes the scholar, who masters matter international relations.

Although it's considered a safe haven by the Syrian refugees, Somalia still remains a bit dangerous given the frequent Al-Shabaab insurgency. The militants still wage small to large-scale sporadic attacks within the capital and other parts of the country.

The war in Syria has lasted for almost a decade now, leaving thousands of people dead and others displaced. It started with some rebels plotting to kick out Bashar al-Assad, the 20th and current president of Syria, who is the son of the former president, Hafez al-Assad.

When the Syrian Civil War began, the four main warring factions were ISIS, Kurdish forces, the Assad government, and other opposition groups. Hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees have returned to their homes, often only to be displaced a second or third time.

The Syrian Civil War is an ongoing multi-sided civil war, fought in Syria, between the Syrian Arab Republic led by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and various domestic and foreign forces that oppose both the Syrian government and each other.

Although many complicated motives led to the Syrian civil war, one event, known as the Arab Spring, stands out as perhaps the most significant trigger for the conflict. In early 2011, a series of political and economic protests in Egypt and Tunisia broke out.

The ongoing conflict in Syria is widely described as a series of overlapping proxy wars between the regional and world powers, primarily between the US and Russia as well as between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Officially, Russia is participating only in an air war over Syria, with a small number of special and support troops on the ground.

But the presence of Syrians in Somalia has contributed positively to the culture and economy of the Horn of Africa nation, which is also fighting the ghosts of civil war, that have haunted it for almost four decades. Somalia is the least developed country in East Africa.

GAROWE ONLINE