afrol News, 6 May - Authorities in Somalia's semi-autonomous state of Puntland have been warned to "bear sole responsibility for the consequences" of entering into a "secret agreement with the Ethiopian regime to transfer private citizens from Ogaden and any ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Front) officials who enter Puntland to Ethiopian security officials."

In a statement, ONLF, an Ethiopian rebel group fighting for self-determination in the Ogaden region, said the "ongoing crackdown in Puntland has created an inhospitable environment for our people fleeing Ethiopian persecution."

It called on rights groups and the international community to "safeguard the well-being of our people who have fled Ethiopian persecution and currently resident in Puntland."

The secret pact was forged to provide arms and military training for Puntland authorities, a clear violation of the United Nations arms embargo on Somalia, ONLF complained.

Dozens of Ogaden Citizens have reportedly been arrested throughout Puntland. Already five private citizens have been handed over to Ethiopian security officials after being arrested on 1 May. This follows the detention and forced transfer to Ethiopian security forces of two ONLF Central Committee members in Garowe, 750km North of the national capital Mogadishu.

Reports of arbitrary arrests came on the heel of a trip by Puntland President Adde Muse's trip to Ethiopia last month. Ethiopian authorities have always blamed their Puntland counterparts of allowing ONLF rebels to operate on their territory.

ONLF said the transferred Ogadan citizens risked torture or execution.

In another development, Ethiopian officials have released 11 Muslims arrested and detained few months ago. But 19 Kenyan are still believed to be languishing in Ethiopian jails. The detained Muslims were accused of collaborating with the deposed Islamists regime.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories