Hundreds of people demonstrated on Wednesday October 28 in the streets of Mogadishu and other Somali cities to protest against Emmanuel Macron's comments on the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, which sparked an intense controversy in the Muslim world.
The French president is the target of demonstrations in several countries after defending the freedom to caricature, during a national tribute to the French teacher Samuel Paty, beheaded by an Islamist on October 16 for showing in class caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad .
Read also: Caricatures: Tunis condemns an anti-Muslim campaign
In Mogadishu, protesters temporarily blocked traffic on major city axes, chanting anti-French slogans and burning the French flag as well as portraits of Mr. Macron.
“
Usually, I don't go out to take part in the demonstrations but today I would be ashamed if I didn't show my feelings towards Macron, this infidel who supported the insult against our prophet Muhammad,
” said Hilal Abudrahman , one of the protesters.
Ahmed Sheik Mire, another participant, believes that "
the French president has provoked Muslim communities
" and called on his co-religionists to show "
their anger against France
".
"
We will continue to demonstrate and we call on the Somali government to sever its relations with France as long as Macron is president
”, also said this man of forty years.
The largest of these gatherings, in Holwada, a district of the capital, had "
hundreds
" of demonstrators, according to Abdirahman Mohamed, a police official working in the area.
These protests "
were so far peaceful but because they call on the government to respond, they could also go wrong and turn violent to put pressure on the government response
," he said.
Read also: Faced with Erdogan, political unanimity behind Macron
Similar protests were reported elsewhere in the country on Wednesday, notably in Wanlamweyn, west of the capital and Adado (center).
The day before, a demonstration had taken place in Somaliland, a self-proclaimed republic which seceded from Somalia in 1991, police sources said, according to which traders have called for a boycott of French products - although these are not available. on the spot.
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated across the Muslim world on Tuesday, reacting angrily to Mr. Macron's remarks, especially in Bangladesh, Syria, the Gaza Strip and Libya.
In several Gulf countries, French goods have been removed from the shelves.
SEE ALSO
- Syria, Pakistan, Iraq ... demonstrations are on the rise in the world against Emmanuel Macron's support for cartoons
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