'It was either killed or be killed'
A 34-year-old shopkeeper reflects on his traumatic childhood as a soldier during the Somali insurgency in the mid-2000s. The article explores the lasting psychological impact of the conflict and the lack of support for survivors of the era.
Why it matters
It sheds light on the long-term human cost of civil war and the recruitment of child soldiers in conflict zones.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Mohamed Gabobe Mogadishu Getty Images Fighters from the Union of Islamic Courts took control of Mogadishu in June 2006 Shopkeeper Yusuf Ali still battles with memories of his time as a child soldier fighting on the streets of Somalia s capital, Mogadishu.
The article provides a historical and personal account of a conflict without taking a political stance on the factions involved.
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