Somali prisoners released from Ethiopia land in Mogadishu

More than one hundred Somali prisoners who were released from Ethiopian prisons following agreements between leaders of the two countries arrived in Mogadishu Saturday accompanied by ambassadors of both countries.

The prisoners, 114 in total who had been serving jail terms in Ethiopia on different counts landed at Aden Adde Airport in Mogadishu Saturday evening marking the successful push by Prime Minister Hassan Khaire to transfer the prisoners to the homeland.

The release of the prisoners follows talks between PM Khaire and his Ethiopian counterpart Hailemariam Desalegn early this month in Addis Ababa.

Speaking to the media upon arrival from Ethiopia accompanying the prisoners, Somalia’s ambassador to Ethiopia, Mohamed Ali Nur, thanked the Ethiopian government and noted six other prisoners were yet to be released.

“We are very thankful to Ethiopia for giving these Somalis their freedom. “Only six Somalis remain in the Ethiopian jails, and we have agreed that they will soon be released,” said Nur.

His Ethiopian counterpart Jamaludin Mustafa Omar noted that the release of the prisoners was an indication of good relations between Somalia and Ethiopia adding that some of the prisoners were serving up to 20 year jail terms.

“Some of these prisoners had 20-year sentences, and their release represents the strengthening relationship between our two countries,” Omar said.