A disability group has called on the federal government to stop discrimination against them in government offices.
Abdullahi Hussein, who lost both legs during the conflict and is highly qualified, said he applied for a job in the ministry of livestock and animal husbandry but was overlooked.
“I applied for a job vacancy at the ministry four years ago, as I am an expert in the environmental development field, but I was not considered for the position because of my disability,” he said.
He visited the ministry offices several times seeking job opportunities but was always turned away. Abdullahi said the government lacked a clear policy to promote the rights of the disabled.
Disabled university graduate Abdullahi Hassan was shocked by the treatment of a Mogadishu municipality officer when he and colleagues wanted to submit applications for jobs.
“A guard thought we had arrived at the gate to beg and he removed some money from his pocket to give to us. That really disappointed us,” he told Radio Ergo’s local reporter.
He said while many organizations claimed to offer equal opportunities, the reality was different.
“The reality is that these agencies are not willing to hire disabled employees for reasons best known to them,” he said.
Abdullahi Salad, head of Somali national disability council, told Radio Ergo that there was a high level of discrimination in the fields of politics, education and also social development.
He called on the federal government authorities to address the problem and come up with a clear policy that would allow disabled people to take part in activities of rebuilding the war-torn nation.
