Somaliland Authorities Release Somalia Lawmaker
Hargeisa, Somaliland (Somaliland Globe)-The Somaliland authorities have released Saturday Mr. Abdullah Haji Ali, a lawmaker from Somalia’s Transitional Federal government who was arrested at Berbera airport on July 19.
In an interview with the BBC, Abdullah Haji Ali said, contrary to some local media reports, he had never questioned the sovereignty of Somaliland as an independent state and declared to have “quit” the parliament of Somalia’s besieged government.
Mr. Ali who was arrested on arrival at Bebrera airport was transferred to Hargeisa, Somaliland’ capital, and held at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)
Mr. Ali said: “I was well treated throughout the period of my detention and I would like to thank the officers and others at the CID”
He was released following a plea from elders of his clan and high ranking officials of the Somaliland government.
Mr. Ali who was a former mayor of Berbera was asked whether he would join politics in Somaliland again but declined to comment.
He said: “I was just released from prison and would like to have a rest first”
Somaliland got its independence on 26 June 1960. This independence was registered with the UN, and 35 countries recognised the new state.
Somaliland however united with Somalia on 1st July 1960 to form what then known as Republic of Somalia after remaining a state within a state for nearly 30 years.
Somaliland restored its independence in 1991 following the downfall of Siyad Barre but is still unrecognised by any country.
People of Somaliland descent who hold high-level positions with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia are routinely arrested and locked up until they recognise and declare publicly the sovereignty of Somaliland as an independent state
Somaliland Globe
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