Parliamentary committee to table Qalbi Dhagah report today

The Parliamentary Committee on Security and Foreign Relations will tabled its report on the controversial extradition of the embattled ONLF leader Qalbi Dhagah to Ethiopia following two months long enquiry.

The 15 member committee from the Lower House is expected to determine the circumstances under which the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) leader in Somalia Abdikarim Muse aka Qalbi Dhagah was transferred to Ethiopia.

The cabinet, in a majority decision early September cited two agreements between Somalia and Ethiopia in 2015 and 2016 to transfer Qalbi Dhagah to Ethiopia. The cabinet also declared Qalbi Dhagah a terrorist

However persons who signed the documents- former Galmudug president Abdikarim Guled and former minister in the office of the President Mahad Salat dismissed the documents noting they referred to conflicts between communities in Somalia and Ethiopia.

RELATED: Parliament assigns 15 member committee task to probe Qalbi Dhagah extradition

Senate to determine legality of Qalbi Dhagah extradition Monday

A lawmaker who did not want to be named told Goobjoog News Saturday the committee is expected to shed light on two major issues. “The committee is expected to determine the existence and legality of the agreements the government referred to in transferring Qalbi Dhagah to Ethiopia. Secondly, it will determine the citizenship of Qalbi Dhagah and if in the affirmative seek his return from Ethiopia.”

The committee was tasked with the assignment September 18 following a heated debate in parliament as lawmakers sought to understand the circumstances surrounding the extradition. The news of Qalbi Dhagah’s transfer and subsequent cabinet vote to declare him a terrorist sparked public uproar.

The Senate deferred debate over the issue pending determination by the Lower House.