Aden Abdullahi: Mogadishu's animal whisperer battles taboos to save strays

As sleepy Mogadishu stirs to life in the countdown to dawn, Aden Abdullahi Ali walks through the quiet streets with a cat purring in his arms.

Two dogs ahead of him pull gently at their leads. A bird perches itself on his shoulder, as if on command during a circus act.

Heads turn as Aden crosses the early risers. Some smile, a few whisper words suggesting a mix of curiosity and incredulousness.

In a country still healing from decades of war, where survival dominates every conversation, here walks a young man devoting his mornings to those most people ignore.

Every day, Aden buys scraps from butchers, tends injuries, cleans wounds and offers comfort to animals on the streets. He does this with whatever little money he has, and at great personal cost.

"Sometimes, it seems difficult to continue doing this. But I cannot stop. I see animals suffering everywhere, and I must care for them," he tells TRT Afrika.

Innate compassion

Aden's journey began with rescuing a snake.

Dangerous, feared and misunderstood, it was an animal most Somalis would kill without hesitation. But Aden saw life in it, a being deserving of mercy.

He rescued the snake and cared for it for years. When the reptile died, he experienced a sadness that still hurts.

"It affected me deeply," recalls Aden. "I moved on to cats, then dogs, and birds. Each animal I cared for taught me something new. Every time I saw them alive and well, it inspired me to continue."

Finances weren't the only hurdle Aden faced along the way. Often, societal perceptions about a person who openly adopted random animals and carried them around turned to hostility.

Misconceptions linked to religion and superstition led some to brand him an outcast. Friends disappeared, neighbours whispered, and his livelihood was threatened.

At the time, Aden ran a small café, earning just about enough to support himself and his family. But as he devoted more time to the animals, business slowed and rumours spread. People avoided his café because they associated him with stray dogs, which many considered dirty. Eventually, he lost it all.

"My café closed," he tells TRT Afrika. "My friends disappeared. Some said I was wasting my life. I felt isolated. I had nothing but my animals, and sometimes it felt like that wasn't enough."

But Aden didn't stop. He saw suffering and chose to act, even as the world turned away. He attributes his unselfish compassion to his belief.

"Allah planted this compassion in my heart," says Aden. "Caring for animals in distress became my life's goal."

Locked on livestock

Unlike Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda, known for wildlife tourism, animals in Aden's native Somalia mean livestock. Sheep, goats and camels dominate both culture and economy.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Somalia exports over four million heads of livestock each year, primarily to the Middle East. Livestock also accounts for nearly 70% of the country's GDP and 85% of its total exports, priced for affordability and compliant with religious slaughtering standards.

This focus on livestock has overshadowed the needs of other animals. Cats, dogs and birds that live in neighbourhoods with humans are largely neglected.

Aden not only protects animals seemingly invisible to the public eye, but also challenges deeply ingrained cultural norms.

He continues to walk openly with stray animals on the streets and talks to children and shopkeepers about the importance of being kind towards them. If they engage with him, he gently challenges long-held misconceptions about these animals.

Slowly, Aden's efforts are bearing fruit. Children who once threw stones at strays dogs now leave bowls of water outside their homes. Streets where animals used to be chased are now spaces of curiosity and, sometimes, affection.

"Our parents grew up during wars and amid extreme hardship," explains Aden. "They were never taught about animals and their needs and rights. I help people understand that animals feel pain. Being kind towards them is not weakness."

Strays find a home

For years, Aden worked only on the streets. Animals lived and sometimes died under his care, exposed to sun, rain and illness. Then he built a small shelter in Mogadishu where stray cats curl up safely, dogs wag their tails without fear and birds perch on branches, finally free from harm.

"Alhamdulillah (All praise be to God), I achieved my dream," Aden tells TRT Afrika.

The struggle continues, though. Medicines are scarce. Veterinary care is limited. Some animals still die despite Aden's tireless efforts. Each loss is heartbreaking, and a reminder of the urgent need for support.

"I need doctors, food, medicines and proper equipment to care for my animals," he says. "Sometimes, animals die in my arms because of illness, and it breaks my heart. I want my people to love animals. I want them to live in peace and practice compassion."

As Somalia rises from the rubble of war, Aden's acts of kindness are as much a call to compassion as it is a reminder that animals are integral to humanity's existence and must be cared for.