Hargeisa district court releases Waddani’s Vice chairman after 10 days of detention

Hargeisa district court released on Saturday the deputy chairman of Waddani party of Somaliland Ahmed Omar (Hamarji) who was detained on 11th August in Hargeisa during the opposition protests. The court which issued a statement on his release noted that Hamarji bought his sentence.

Officials said security forces arrested 14 members including the Vice chairman of Waddani party during the opposition protests and most of them were arrested in Hargeisa and Gabiley.

A few hours before his release was pronounced, Yonis Ahmed Yonis, the Secretary of justice for the party said that the arrest of Hamarji is politically motivated which could trigger further political impasse in Somaliland if the government does not free him imminently. He underlined that if security forces do not rescind their decisions of arresting opposition figures that it could degrade Somaliland’s democracy.

The party revealed an accusation against the president of ordering the security agencies to arrest anyone from his constituency who does not share the same political views with him, an accusation the President has yet to comment on.