Somaliland Govt Arrests Top Opposition Official

Hargeisa (Somaliland.com) – Somaliland government has arrested the secretary of interior of UCID party Mohamud Ali Saleebaan Ramah. The party’s secretary of Information, Yusuf Keyse, made the announcement on Thursday afternoon.

Mr. Ramah, a vocal critic of president Muse Bih’s surrendered today to the Criminal Investigation Department after a warrant was issued to his arrest.

He was informed of the warrant last night. Talking to the press earlier today, he blamed president Bihi for his detention saying that the president confirmed his arrest warrant to the opposition leaders in their meeting this morning.

I am on my way to the C.I.D. It’s one hundred away from here. I didn’t the police to get me at my house or any other place. This is real. We are going there now.  This morning the president himself confirmed the existence of this arrest warrant. I was also informed.  

Suleiman Ramaah, UCID Interior Secretary

Mr. Ramah alleged that he was subjected to intimidation and threats prior to this warrant. He claimed that President Bihi’s brother had threatened him with a bullet between the eyes. He also told another incident where a soldier loaded a gun and threatened to kill him.

We will not flee the county because of Muse Bihi’s threats. It happened before that, I, Ramaah who you know, a politician who doesn’t gripe and with my gun always in my car,  that his brother threatened to shoot me. He didn’t take out a gun or anything. I never disclosed this before. There were witnesses. I hid it because it looked to me as a young man sent by his brother. 

Suleiman Ramaah, UCID Interior Secretary

Yusuf Keyse, the UCID information secretary of UCID party condemned Mr. Ramaah’s arrest and called it illegal. He called on the people of Somaliland to reject the arbitrary detentions of government critics. In particular, he urged Mr. Ramah’s home region to reject his detention.

We believe the detention of Ramaah to an illegal arrest. It’s a tragedy that befell on this nation. We strongly condemn the detention, intimidation, and threats against political parties, the press and the people of Somaliland

Yusuf Keyse, Info secretary of UCID Party

Detaining people who criticize the government has increased during the time of President Muse Bihi in office. The independent Human Rights Center who tracks such detentions recorded 89 cases this year. That’s more than double the figure of 2018.  

Abdillahi Hassan

Hargeisa (Somaliland.com) –