Ethiopia confirms transfer of Somali national, labels him a 'terrorist'

The Ethiopian government has confirmed the transfer of Somali national belonging to the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF).

The decision by Somalia to transfer Mr. Abdikarin Sheikh Muse to Ethiopia has, however, sparked outrage back home as it is seen as a breach of national and international laws.

At a time that the Somali government remained silent on the issue, the Ethiopian Communications minister, Negeri Lencho, confirmed to the Voice of America’s Amharic service that the transfer had indeed taken place.

Despite ONLF describing itself as a liberation group of the Ogaden region, Ethiopia insists that the group is a terrorist organization and by extension, its members are terrorists.

ONLF describes itself as “a national liberation organisation that struggles for the rights of the Somali people in Ogaden and has no involvement whatsoever in Somalia’s multifaceted conflict at all.”

Ethiopia says Abdikarim Sheikh Muse is a member of a “terrorist” organization but ONLF says they’re “freedom fighters”.

— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) August 31, 2017

ONLF in a statement on Wednesday confirmed the detention and subsequent transfer of Sheikh Muse. The statement directly accused Somali President Mohammed Abdullahi ‘Farmajo,’ of complicity in the said transfer.

It also listed as accomplices, Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre, National Security Advisor Gen. Bshir Mohamed Jamac-Goobe and head of the state intelligence agency Abdullahi Mohamed Ali.

Whiles accusing Mogadishu of breaching national and international laws, the ONLF averred that “the Somali government has forcefully transferred a political refugee to Ethiopia which is known to torture and humiliate its opponents.’

“It has been intimated that Mr. Abdikarin was sacrificed in order ti get political support from the Ethiopian regime. The Ethiopian ambassador to Somalia who is a close relative of the Prime Minister and in-law to the Somali president played a key role in brokering the deal,” the statement said.