Hiiraan Online
Monday, April 11, 2016
MOGADISHU (HOL) – For Iman Elman, a 24 years-old female Somali army captain, the decision to return home and join Somali army wasn’t an easy one, but rather a one which against all odds she had to take it to break barriers.
Having enrolled into the military for the traditionally conservative country where women's duties are largely limited to family life, Elman who grew up in Canada had to challenge gender stereotypes for years, a journey which grabbed the attention of panelists at the Women in the World Summit in New York City last week.
Among three African women from Nigeria and Somalia who were invited to the summit, Iman spoke about the threat of militants to peace and her own country of Somalia where the Al-Qaeda linked Al Shabab group is waging a deadly insurgency across large parts of the country.
“I knew I wanted to put an end to it and knew that meant I would have to deal with al-Shabab head-on. By joining the army, I’d actually be able to contribute and restore peace back to the country,” she said.
Describing her journey to rise in the military ranks to a captain rank, Elman said that despite a negative misperception towards her, something she said failed to put off her passion to serve in the army.
“Initially it was seen as very negative, as someone who was disrespecting my culture, my religion, but over time people started to embrace the idea of women wearing pants.” Prior to al-Shabab’s arrival in Somalia, Somali women often wore pants, Elman said in an interview with the CBS television.
During the interview, the Somali army captain said that, women, who traditionally dominate the household, have been essential to the spread of al-Shabab, encouraging sons or other men in their households to execute attacks. For that reason, Elman said the role of women in expelling al-Shabab from their communities will be crucial.
“It’s the ideology that we’re fighting, and therefore it is equal for men and for women. We’ve had a number of cases where women are playing huge, dominant roles, and that’s why I think women should be playing more of an active role in the security sector, because I’ve seen women taking on a huge role in fighting directly alongside al-Shabab,” Elman said.