When a deadly blast tore through a graduation ceremony in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on 3 December, 23 people died, dozens were injured and the day suddenly turned dark for hundreds of people who had turned up for what should have been a celebration. The government has since set up a team to investigate the bombing. An unprecedented number of students - 23 medicine, 16 education, and 13 computer science and IT - were to graduate that day, among them Sakhaudin Ahmed, 23, a doctor, who spoke to IRIN about his experience:
“I was extremely happy that after six years I was finally getting my degree; it was the happiest day of my life. I was one of the first graduates to get to the venue for the ceremony. I was there at 8am.
"You have no idea how hard we worked to get our degrees. There were days we could not go to class because of the security situation. I had to cross roadblocks to get to the university and brave gunfire many times; therefore graduation day was an emotional day for all of us.
“But then, just as we were about to receive our diplomas, a huge explosion ripped through the place. For a minute I was so dazed I could not understand what was happening. Then I realized my leg was bleeding and when I looked at where my colleagues had been sitting, there was nothing but death and destruction.
"Six students who were to receive their degrees [in computer science] were killed instantly. One of my favourite professors was also killed.
"What was supposed to have been the happiest day of my life turned into a nightmare; it is a day I will not forget for the rest of my life. I guess I am one of the lucky ones, I survived.
"We were there to celebrate our accomplishments and someone turned it into a dreadful thing. We are not into politics, we simply want to help our people and ourselves.
"Thursday's [3 December] bombing was meant to kill any hope for a better future for us but those behind it will not succeed. I am reporting to work at a hospital [in Mogadishu] today [7 December].
"I will not be deterred by anyone in fulfilling my ambition of being a doctor and helping others. Every day I go to the hospital my friends and professor will be in my thoughts."
ah/mw
“I was extremely happy that after six years I was finally getting my degree; it was the happiest day of my life. I was one of the first graduates to get to the venue for the ceremony. I was there at 8am.
"You have no idea how hard we worked to get our degrees. There were days we could not go to class because of the security situation. I had to cross roadblocks to get to the university and brave gunfire many times; therefore graduation day was an emotional day for all of us.
“But then, just as we were about to receive our diplomas, a huge explosion ripped through the place. For a minute I was so dazed I could not understand what was happening. Then I realized my leg was bleeding and when I looked at where my colleagues had been sitting, there was nothing but death and destruction.
"Six students who were to receive their degrees [in computer science] were killed instantly. One of my favourite professors was also killed.
"What was supposed to have been the happiest day of my life turned into a nightmare; it is a day I will not forget for the rest of my life. I guess I am one of the lucky ones, I survived.
"We were there to celebrate our accomplishments and someone turned it into a dreadful thing. We are not into politics, we simply want to help our people and ourselves.
"Thursday's [3 December] bombing was meant to kill any hope for a better future for us but those behind it will not succeed. I am reporting to work at a hospital [in Mogadishu] today [7 December].
"I will not be deterred by anyone in fulfilling my ambition of being a doctor and helping others. Every day I go to the hospital my friends and professor will be in my thoughts."
ah/mw
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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