Somalia: “ONLF Rebel Commander Extradited to Ethiopia was a Terrorist” Somali Cabinet decides
Prime Minister Khaire and his deputy photographed during the extra ordinary cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning. Photo Credit: OPM
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Horn Observer) Somali cabinet decided on Wednesday in an emergency meeting that the ONLF rebel leader extradited to Ethiopia was a terrorist and member of a terrorist organization.
The meeting which was chaired by the Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire discussed among other issues the existing bilateral agreements between Somalia and Ethiopia. Among the agreements are one signed by the former State minister of Somalia, Mahad Salad Mohamed and another agreement signed on 2 May, 2016 by Mohamed Jama Mursal Gelle, the former minister of Telecommunication and Posts.
“Both agreements fully recognize Al Shabaab and ONLF as terror organizations” Statement released by the office of the Somali Prime Minister said, “Qalbi Dhagax was a member of terror organization, ONLF and had links with the Shabab another terror organization in Somalia”
“Somalia government will do all it can to bring before law any individual or entities found to be members of terrorist organizations” The statement added.
Somali government recently handed over an ONLF rebel leader Abdihakim Sheikh Muse aka Qalbi Dhagah, to Ethiopia. Qalbi Dhagax is accused of committing crimes against humanity during his membership to the Liyuu police, against the Somali people in the Ethiopian Somali region known as DDSI.
“Abdikarim has committed crimes ranging rape to killing civilians living at Danood, Qoraxey, Nogob, Shabelle in the Somali regional administration in Ethiopia.” Abdi Mohamoud Omar, president of DDSI said in an interview.
DDSI president Abdi Mohamoud Omar criticized the Somalis and several politicians for not demonstrating against or tabling a motion against the Shabab, which kills the Somalis on a daily basis. Mr. Omar also declared that Qalbi Dhagax is a Ethiopian citizen and will be tried at the Ethiopian courts.
There has been mix of reactions among the Somalis, some criticizing the government, while others defended the government’s decision in which it handed over the ONLF rebel commander to Ethiopia.
However, Ethiopian Diplomat, Gen. Gabre who is Senior Political Advisor to IGAD took to the social media this week praising the Somali National Intelligence Agency (NISA) while accusing the Somalia President and Prime Minister for aiding terrorists, an act that many analysts said the handover of the oNLF rebel commander to Ethiopia might have been pre-planned act aimed to disrupt Somalia government politically.
Ethiopia recently handed over 114 Somali prisoners to Somalia following agreement between the two governments.
This is not the first time Somalia and Ethiopia sign agreement on transfer of prisoners. On April 3, 1988 Somalia signed a peace agreement with Ethiopia. According to New York Times, the agreement which was signed in Mogadishu by the Foreign Minister Berhanu Bahiy of Ethiopia and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Mohamud Farah of Somalia aimed to restore diplomatic relations, exchange prisoners of war and refrain from hostile propaganda or acts of destabilization against each other. In that agreement both Somalia and Ethiopia closed the offices of the rebels fighting against the respective countries.
Many Somali lawyers contend that the agreement still valid citing article 40 of the Somalias federal constitution, but did not clarify how existing treats between Ethiopia and Somalia have been applied in the context of the current transfer of prisoners.
Ethiopia, which many Somalis regard as traditional enemy shares long border with Somalia and is one of the troop contributing countries of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and its army are fighting alongside Somali national army against Shabab, a terrorist organization which is affiliated to Al-Qaeda. Al Shabaab remains potential threat on the Horn of Africa region, despite losing large swaths of territory to the Somali and AMISOM troops in South and Central Somalia.
Sourece:Horn Observer –