Somaliland
Djibouti hands ONLF driver to Somaliland
February 25, 2011 · 23 Comments
BERBERA — The government of Djibouti extradited a wanted Somaliland fugitive to Hargeisa on Wednesday to serve his jail term in Mandera.
According to Elmi Robleh Fure, Somaliland’s chief police commissioner Djibouti authorities handed over Mohammad Yusuf Odawa who has been on the run for the last five months.
Mr. Fure told BBC Somali-Services that Odawa was wanted over an incident in September 2010 in which local men smuggled in fighters belonging to Ethiopian rebel group into Somaliland territory.
On September 10th, about 200 Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) rebels arrived in the small fishing town of Bulle-Adde, situated between Zeila and Lughaya, by two boats from Eritrea. After hiding in remote areas for a day they travelled overland to the border using three trucks the next day. Police insist Mr. Odawa was one of the three truck drivers transporting the group over to Ethiopia.
All three truck drivers were initially arrested during clashes between the ONLF rebels and Somaliland forces backed by Ethiopian troops near the Marmar mountains, a region bordering Ethiopia and Djibouti.
However during a massive demonstration in Borama, Mr Odawa was able to escape with the help of friends and family. He has been on the run ever since.
In November 2010, President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo visited the Djibouti republic in which the two states agreed collaborating in the areas of security, trade and development.
Mr Fure
The police commissioner said a military court sentenced Mohammad Yusuf Odawa in his absence, to 16 years term of imprisonment in late September 2010. He added he will serve his term in Mandera prison.
The ONLF has been battling Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government for independence for the last two decades. In recent times, it has been trying to launch attacks against Addis Ababa using Somaliland territory.
The Somaliland government believes Eritrea is funding a clan militant in Somaliland’s Buhodle district in a move to force Somaliland to vacate its northern coastline by moving the bulk of its troops to disputed region.
In October 2010, the largest faction of the ONLF led by Selahadin Mao signed peace deals with the government of Meles in a bid to develop the region. Mr. Mao told international media his forces represent 80 per cent of the movement. Other ONLF members sharply denied the deals.
Somaliland maintains close bilateral relations with the government of Ethiopia and the two states have agreed to counter any threat to together.
Somalilandpress | 24 Feb 2011
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Tags: Drivers, Ethiopia, ONLF, Somaliland
Readers Comments (23)
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good relationship between the two brothern governments
16 years seems like a reasonable term to hand down to him of course the judge considered other factors. But we wish to know who planned this operation? Who was communicating with the drivers? The Eritreans or the ONLF? Did they get paid? These are all revelant information the public deserves to know.
Why a military court, was he in the military and if not are we not responding like a dictatorship by having his judgement in private.
You dont need to be in the military to face a martial court. I am not a lawyer but its common sense, if the case involves a case like this where he acted against the State and its judiciary and as a result put the lives of soldiers at risk, he has lost all civilian rights because he brought an enemy troop to our soil.
The U.S. has one which could try civilians during a "contingency operations", sabotaging the military, etc.
This man violated the state not civilian laws. Once you go out side that boundry you will lose your civilian rights.
Who tried all the Muslim guys locked in Guantanama Bay? A lot of them are civilians snatched from around the world in civilian uniforms take for example that Egyptian man from Australia.
Looks like all strong democratic institutions have rescued their Nationalities and those
remaining held prisoners in Guantanama Bay are from 3rd world countries with brutal
dictators like the Yemen and so forth. Who knows many of these ill-fated civilian prisoners might
be innocent. The main blame goes to their countries leaderships who care a dime and damn of
their citizens in foreign jails. Perhaps it's time the US to evaluate the brutal leaderships of the
countries of those held in the Guantanama Bay and hold them accountable.
Cheers.
waxan la yaabaa danbi dhacay oo ragii waddanka xukumayey yareystaan tani gaboose ee guryaha waxa ka horeeyey dilalkii foosha xumaa ee ka dhacay wadada isku xidha dila iyo gabilay gurigii wasiirkii hore ee lagu bireeyey ninkii ilaalinyey reerkii nabad ku seexday ee habeenkii la bireeyey.xukunka siiraanyo waa iskugu mid danbi nin galay iyo nin laga galay
Maxaa Qalada ee uu Smeeyay Odawaa?
Ma Waxuu ahaa Ciidankii ONLF ee Meesha soo jiidhay mise Ilaaladii xeebaha ee Somaliland?
Waxaan Filayaa inuu lahaa ama Wade ka ahaa Gaadhi kamida Kuwii lagu safray kaliya Waxuuna Qaatay Kiradiisa!!
thats what he did!!
So Odawa is innocent because he was just the poor driver? Are you serious?
"In October 2010, the largest faction of the ONLF led by Selahadin Mao signed peace deals "
Somalilandpress has become nothing but a propaganda machine for the TPLF…Disgrace !
How is that somalilandpress has become a propoganda machine? It is a reality. His faction has signed a pact with the Ethiopian government and this has utterly weakened the remaining faction (lke you) in tatters. Your remainign little faction is reduced to a bandit unit.
Djibouti government action to handover poor driver it will going to pay a price. On Somaliland part, they can't play double standar. How can the driver be quilty without facing court first place? the poor driver was sentenced 16 years before he defended himself. He was simple told to get goods from Awdal Ports and then he was kidnapped at gun points. There are more to this story and the poor driver can't be victim for all crimes commited inside Somaliland. I don't need to say here but many people who murdered innocent people are free so your so called law of Somaliland is just to panished Awdalis right, let see we this takes us. Now it the time Mr. Abdirahman Saylici do something about his poor driver Odawaa.
I can understand why you sympathize with Odawaa. But asking Vice President Saylici to do something … Don't you think you are stretching Awadl(sm) too much?.
This guy has an issue you have to ignore him and let him let some steam out. Please be kind to the little kid who has been misled by his friends from Buhodle, on top the issue that occured in Dilla/Gabiley area is still on his mind. Isaaqs are the only Somalis that dont flip-flop. We stick to our goal and guns but the others once they uncle is gone they cry.
Take for example this kid and Bashir Goth and his brother Hashim, when Riyale was the president they were all silent and pro, now he is voted out they are crying. We didnt cry when Riyale was the President and we will continue to be straight about that.
Somalida kale malinba wa dhinacay cadcedu uu jeedo, galinka hore wa facing West, galinka danbe waxay uu jedan East. Hala yabiina.
Riyale was a good president and a very outstanding leader. Please Jale do not drag him into your fight of tribalism
Awdalian are my people and Saylici is my VP. The point here is not about place of origin but rather crimes committed against the people of SL and i believe there are people who are responsible of verifying the extent of the crime. SL are not full of angels just like a normal society we also have devils and awdal is not an exception.incitment of public is considered to be a crime and Awdalboy you are just doing the crime. If you do not feel confortable please come forward and speak loudly about it, it is a sign of cowardise to hide behind another man (saylici) to do something for you.
Mr Odawa is a traitor and needs to be punished for his crime against his country people. He collaborated with over three hundred men up to no good and armed to the teeth. Just imagine if they started to shoot innocent people from the moment they crossed the border. He could have been responsible for what would have happened. Let him rot in jail!
Cajiib .. When will Somaliland stop licking the tigree boots and regain it's dignity and pride.
when crawling maggots like you completely perish from the face of Somalia and elsewhere. Hope this will answer your damn question!!
Look who is talking! We have our pride and dignified too. You, people licked not boots, but the rare of the Tigree and killed thousands of innocent people of you own.
As i said before ONLF,SSC, terrorists are not welcomed any where in the horn of Africa.
Sxb SSC and ONLF Are two different Groups! SSC Waxaan filayaa in ay tahay in lala Xaalo oo la fahmo Gaar ahaan Somaliland ay fahanto, Onfl Waa Qorshe kale oo wxay Dagal kula kirtaa Dowlad Xoog badan oo Ethiopia la yidhaa Waana Runtii Cadowga koobaad ee Umadda Somaliyed Leedahay Haddii ay tahay S/land Somalia, Djibouti or Kenya Waana in aan taas fahannaa, Haddii aynaan Wax tarany aan dhibka iyo Cayda ka Daysanno Siday aniga ila tahay Howlahoodana aan u dayno,
Whether ONLF or others are taking arms because of state terror, so the solution is to say no to tyrany and tyrants rather than imprisoning those who are counter-reacting to state terror and demanding their freedom.
Odawa waa XAFAJO dila sidii kuwii wadada lagu laayey oo kale !!! Gudobuur maaku faa-idah hadayba awdal-land la baxeene !