MPs From Jubaland Slam Gov’t Over Detention of Colleagues at Aden Adde Airport

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Members of Parliament from Jubaland have lashed out at the Federal Government over what they termed intimidation following the arrest of their colleagues on Monday.

The lawmakers who spoke on the precincts of Parliament said the government was harassing MPs from Jubaland, noting they have submitted a censure motion against the government.

“We have now submitted a motion regarding our fellow members of parliament who were detained at Mogadishu Airport and the general Somali people who were detained on the planes for their fundamental rights as citizens,” Hassan Yare, a member of Parliament from Jubaland, said.

Yare added, ‘A room has been opened at the airport to interrogate people traveling to or from Jubbaland. In that room, questions are asked about where they are going, where they came from, and what they have to do with Jubbaland.’

Two MPs from Jubaland—Abdirashid Jire Qalinle and MP Omar Qalad-diid—were detained on Tuesday at Aden Adde Airport as they were about to travel to Kismayo. The circumstances surrounding the detention remained unclear.

The MP said the motion will be debated on Saturday after today’s sitting failed owing to lack of a quorum.