Portrait story: The Father of Strays

KISMAYO - Abdi Mohamed Muuse, 74, has witnessed Somalia at its worst and at its best. Having lived in Kismayo, Jubaland his whole life, he knows better than anyone that when there is a lack of peace, everyone suffers, especially the cats and dogs that have made Kismayo their home.

Since 1993 Abdi Mohamed has made it his mission to feed as many of the stray cats and dogs that live in Kismayo. Kismayo is the third biggest city in Somalia and constantly growing as the number of IDP’s (Internally displaced people) returning to Jubaland continues to expand the city. With so many people in dire circumstances living amongst him, Abdi has often been asked, why do you help these animals when we as humans need help? A question he often responds to with “Allah will help us so we have to help those he placed in our care.” Others ask why he feeds dogs as they are seen as “impure” in Muslim cultures to which he responds “…they are a part of Allah's creations as well are they not?”

By 7am, Abdi is awake and making his way to the market to pick up the discarded scraps from the butcher shops and fish market. He then makes his way around the city while calling out to the cats and dogs he affectionately calls “…my children”. The never ending stream of his 4 legged companions emerge from their lying places to take part in the feeding frenzy. Abdi has kept this ritual going for the past couple of decades because he says “…it has brought me peace, feeding these animals has brought me peace.”

At 74, Abdi is aware that he is aging and one day won’t be able to continue to feed the stray animals that he looks after. So he passed his love for strays on to his nephew, Yusuf Said, and ensured that they will be cared for even if he was not around. Yusuf was reluctant at first but complied out of a sense of familial duty. “He is my uncle and can’t refuse his will and I’m ready to take on his responsibility if he is not around” Said Said. However, it didn’t take long for him to understand why his uncle was so fond of the strays and it quickly turned into his passion as well.

In a country with no shortage of heartbreaking and violent narratives, Abdi Qaate provides a look into a world where one man's determination to act of kindness can change the minds of many.

Abdi has come back from the meat market. He brought meat with him and the cat came running towards him. This is what he does daily for about twenty-five years.

This is Abdi a 75-year-old man living in Kismayo, Somalia he dedicated his live to feeding stray cats and dogs.

Abdi watches over the cats to protect them from the local children.

Yusuf is Abdi's nephew. He helps his uncle to feed cats and dogs.

This cat is at local meat market.

Abdi is at a restaurant where he shares his food with a cat.

This called Awo, which means lucky, is eating meat given by Abdi.

Photo and story by Abdishukri Haybe