Somalia: Puntland arrests Prominent Traditional Elder (RBC NEWS)
Farah Ali
RBC Radio Staff
BOSASSO, (RBC Radio) The authorities of Somalia’s semi autonomous region of Puntland have captured and arrested a prominent traditional elder in the port town of Bosasso on Wednesday, RBC Radio reports.
Suldan Mohammed Yusuf, an other traditional elder in Bosasso told RBC Radio that Chief elder Abdulaziz Yusuf, known as “Afgudud” was arrested today morning by Bosasso police.
“Today, at 8:00 am five policemen came to us while we were in the office of the elders in Bosasso and they asked the elder to go with them, and then they arrested him”, Suldan Mohamed Yusuf said.
He added that he does not know what the purpose of the elder’s arrest is, “We do not know what this arrest means, but we are now in a continuing efforts towards this case”.
Mr. Abdulasis Afgudud is now in police custody where he is questioned. The police officials declined to comment on this issue.
Independent sources told RBC Radio that Mr. Afgudud has criticized Puntland authorities deeply for capturing 5 Somali youth men originally from Ogaden region in Ethiopia and handed over to Ethiopia security officials.
The arrest of the traditional elder comes as other people such as religious men in Puntland have condemned Puntland’s action of handing Ogaden citizens to Ethiopia.
Puntland accuses Ogaden citizens of supporting ONLF, an Ethiopian rebel group fighting for self-determination in the Ogaden region.
Five private citizens have reportedly been arrested throughout Puntland last week and one of them handed to Ethiopia. Already Dozens of Ogaden Citizens have been handed over to Ethiopian security officials after being arrested in Puntland.
The ONLF has so far condemned the arrest and transfering its citizens to Ethiopia.
Source: RBC Radio
Puntland is for Puntlander if you wanna live in here come peacefully respecting the law, we will not accept armi smuggler to destabilize peace and prosperity of our neighbours country
In rigard to the traditional elder he has the old mentality of tribal thought. He don’t know the mining of the statehood He has no right to interfere government’s job. Is clear his intention to create problem amog Puntland people. He has a contagious desease keep hin alone in jail for ever