Mogadishu (AX) — Faadumo’s journey began when she was just seven. A tragic medical oversight left her partially paralyzed, changing the trajectory of her life forever. Yet, her struggle extends beyond personal physical challenges to battling societal perceptions that deem disability a mark of shame.
One of her most profound challenges arose when she discovered love. She found a partner, and their hearts whispered promises of a future together. Yet, societal voices threatened their happiness. “They told him to find another woman,” Faadumo recalls with a somber smile, reflecting on how her disability made her unacceptable in his family’s eyes.
Undeterred, Faadumo and her partner defied familial opposition and married. But acceptance was elusive. “Every night,” she shares, her voice a blend of resilience and resignation, “my mother-in-law would whisk my husband away, convinced my condition could somehow transfer to him.” The whispers of the community lingered around her like a constant echo, pressing down with unyielding judgment.
Things took a turn for the worse when Faadumo became pregnant. The anticipation of bringing a new life into the world should be a universally joyous occasion, yet for Faadumo, it became another battleground. “His family urged us to separate during my pregnancy,” she recalls, the memory sharp as ever. They feared her child would inherit her disabilities, a fear rooted in ignorance and superstition.
In Somalia, the stark reality is that more than one in ten adults live with some form of disability. Women, particularly, bear the brunt of deep-seated cultural beliefs that entwine disability with notions of bad luck and misfortune, rendering them vulnerable to exclusion and discrimination.
Activists in Somalia have long toiled for legal recognition and reform. Among these tireless advocates is Mohamed Diiriye, whose visual impairment has not stopped him from seeing a better future for the disabled community. His determination played a crucial role in the enactment of the National Disability Protection Act. Though President Hassan Sheikh finally signed it into law in December 2024, it was a journey fraught with challenges.
“The first thing you notice when you step outside is the barriers—the rough roads, the waste, the stagnant water,” Diiriye explains, his words painting a visceral picture of everyday hurdles. “For disabled people,” he continues, “these obstacles are omnipresent hurdles we must navigate repeatedly.”
The law represents a beacon of hope, promising protection from discrimination and advocating for the political representation of disabled individuals. Additionally, it mandates that at least 5% of both public and private sector employees be individuals with disabilities—an ambitious step towards inclusivity.
Yet, as always, the devil is in the details of implementation. “Somalia has a history of enacting laws that gather dust,” warns Mohamed Abdul Jama, chairman of the National Disability Agency. “Enforcement hinges on the collective will of governments, businesses, and society at large.”
Awareness is the new frontier. Enter Hafsa, a trailblazer on TikTok challenging stereotypes and reshaping dialogues around disability. “When I revealed my disability,” she shares, “the questions came pouring in, a mix of curiosity and misunderstanding. Initially, I concealed it, but now, I wear it as a badge of strength and identity.”
Through the sparkle of her screen, Hafsa reaches those cloaked in shadows, believing the world offers no place for them. “Many disabled individuals doubt their ability to pursue education or employment. I aim to show them that possibilities are within reach.”
Hafsa and Diiriye are well aware that dismantling generations of stigma is a formidable challenge. Nevertheless, the legal framework in place provides them with a foundation, a stepping stone to propel the movement forward.
“We now have a reason to keep fighting,” Hafsa asserts with unyielding optimism, echoed by Diiriye’s shared resolve. Their journey is a testament to resilience, a dance between struggle and triumph, demonstrating that change, though hard-won, is not beyond reach.
A question lingers—what role do each of us play in this unfolding narrative? For Faadumo, Hafsa, Diiriye, and countless others, the quest for equality and dignity goes on, weaving stories that resonate with truths universal and profound.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring.
With files from the BBC Somali Service
