Looking like a poster boy for integration as he sipped a coffee in Valletta, Adil Mohamed Ahmed eloquently but firmly stated his message in perfect English: “Al Shabaab does not represent Somalis or Islam.”
Mr Ahmed, 28, reluctantly agreed to articulate the feelings of the Somali diaspora in Malta following this week’s deadly terrorist attack in Kenya claimed by al Shabaab, the Islamist group fighting for power in Somalia.
He was reluctant not because he was equivocal about the deadly assault on a Nairobi mall, but because he wanted more of his countrymen to speak publicly.
“The problem is they are very afraid. Nearly everyone still has family in Somalia and they worry they will suffer revenge attacks if they speak out,” Mr Ahmed said.
Not only that, the more recent arrivals are still conditioned by fear of al Shabaab, which brutally enforced their rule in the areas under its control.
“Many had bad experiences with the Islamists and they cannot get rid of their fear,” Mr Ahmed explained.
He was heartened by broadcasts he had watched from around Europe in recent days, in which Somali migrants had publicly condemned the Kenyan attack that killed at least 67.
“We feel the same here and we send our heartfelt condolences to those affected. These terrorists are merciless and they do not represent us,” Mr Ahmed said.
Unfortunately, when extremism emerges,so does ignorance
He added that, unlike other countries in Europe, it was difficult to talk of spokespeople for a Somali community in Malta because most of his countrymen left the island as soon as possible.
Having been in Malta for five years, for most of that time working as an interpreter, Mr Ahmed was an exception to the rule.
Somalia has been torn by civil war for more than two decades and it hurts Mr Ahmed that many Somalis in the West are often tarred with the brush of extremism and violence.
“We left our country because of these problems but it seems we can’t escape them because people in the West associate us with them,” he said.
“Unfortunately, when extremism emerges, so does ignorance.”
Mr Ahmed fled his homeland eight years ago, though he is in regular contact with his parents and other family members in the capital Mogadishu.
Al Shabaab’s support base was small and shrinking, he pointed out, with much of its financial and material support coming from Islamists outside the country.
“My relatives and friends at home tell me that the locals support the government’s and African troops’ efforts to get rid of al Shabaab,” Mr Ahmed noted.
Since they lost control of the capital and other key towns, the Islamists have resorted to increasingly desperate guerrilla attacks, the young Somali added.
“They throw grenades, they launch suicide attacks... but we believe these attacks will eventually stop.”
Mr Ahmed left Malta yesterday to start a new life in the US as part of the ongoing resettlement programme.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” he said. “But in many ways it is hard, because it means I have to start my life all over again.”