Rumors or Truth: The Extradition of Somaliland Businessman to Djibouti

Djibouti Government requested the extradition of Somaliland Businessman, Ahmed Osman Gelle, back to Djibouti to face an alleged corruption charges.

Mr Ahmed Osman Gelle is a Somaliland citizen and well-known businessman. He has businesses in both Djibouti and Somaliland. In Somaliland, he is the CEO of Somaliland Beverage Industries (SBI) and Coca Cola Franchise holder. Mr Gelle also manages other notable businesses such as DHL Somaliland, Milgo Digital, OGF Export/Import, GSK Shipping and logistics and Frankincense Company.

Djiboutian court papers received by Somaliland.com indicate the extradition court order of the Businessman. These judicial papers are addressed to Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

Somaliland MoFA issued letter accepting the extradition of the Businessman, ordered other ministries to response accordingly.

In response to that, Mr Abdiqani Ateye Fariid, then Minister of Justice of Somaliland, signed an arrest warrant of the Mr Ahmed Osman Gelle. The minister of justice ordered Attorney General, Police Commissioner and the High Court of Somaliland to arrest the businessman and extradite to Djibouti. The Minister mentioned the cooperative law enforcement process between the two brotherly nations, Somaliland and Djibouti.

Somaliland Minister of Interior Affairs Mr. Mohamed Kahin Ahmed denied the existence of a letter of Warrant of arrest against the businessman. He said that these are hoax news and defamatory attacks against the businessman.

The legal advocates in Somaliland denounced this act deporting a citizen to foreign country, Djibouti, where the government corruption violates human rights and dictatorship rule is in place.

Ahmed Moge, Lawyer, quoted the Somaliland Constitution which clearly states, in Article 35, that “The extradition of a Somaliland citizen to another country is prohibited.”

The row between the business tycoon and President Guelleh has started back in 2017 when a Djibouti court issued a warrant of arrest for Ahmed O. Gelle and after finding out that business tycoon had fled to Somaliland’s capital, Hargeisa. Where he is managing only his businesses in Somaliland.

There are many questions shadowing legality of this sensitive issue and how President Muse Bihi’s government is eager to hand-over a citizen and one of this country’s most successful persons.

The Somaliland Traditional Elders role:

Members of Somaliland traditional leaders (Sultans) tried mediation efforts late in 2017 on reducing the conflict between Ahmed Osman Guelle and Djibouti Government. But all those efforts had failed and they returned empty-handed.

Siilaanyo Era:

Former Somaliland Government of Siilaanyo era has refused any arrest against this businessman when it received similar to this warrant of arrest against Mr. Gelle. Although there was a popular extradition case of another citizen named Abdillahi sh Abdirahman Ibrahim in 2014, for terrorism accusations.

Biggest Investor:

The Osman Gelle Farah (Known OGF) Group of Companies is considered the biggest investor in Somaliland. The Coca-Cola processing plant in Jalelo, near Hargeisa, is believed to be the single largest investment project in Somaliland history. It is evaluated with an initial capital investment of more than $20 million. Coca-cola-Somaliland is a subsidiary of SBI, which also manages other factories such as Lis Dairy Milk Factory, Dasani Water and Fresh Fruit farm and processing plant.

OFG Group of companies besides employing thousands of young Somalilanders and boosting local economy, took part many philanthropy works in Somaliland. SBI with collaboration of UNICEF and Hargeisa Water Agency implemented first ever clean water system to two of the most remote IDP villages where more than 50,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and refugees live in, Ayaha1 and Ayaha2 of Sh Omar District. SBI also donated $5 million for expansion of Hargeisa water supply pipelines.

Somaliland.com, Independent online news website.

Hargeisa Office