ADDIS–ABABA (Halbeeg News) – Legal measures will be taken against the former leader of the Ethiopian Somali region, Abdi Mohamud Omar, Ethiopian government said.
Mr. Omar was forced to resign early this month and replaced by his finance minister Mr. Ahmed Abdi Mohammed who was later removed from the office.
In his first press conference since he assumed office in April, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed said Somali regional government under the rule of the ousted leader, Mr. Omar, arrested political prisoners along with Lions and Hyena to torture the prisoners suspected to have links with opposition groups.
“It is hard to believe. It is like a movie. Prisoners used to be kept along with Lions and Hyena,” Abiy told journalists.
Mr. Omar who is currently in custody in the capital city of Ethiopia was accused of committing crimes against humanity during the tenure of region’s leadership.
This month, Human Rights Watch urged the federal government of Ethiopia to probe Mr. Omar and senior state officials for war crimes and gross human rights abuses.
The agency called on the Ethiopian government to institute an independent probe into the role of Mr. Omar and head of the notorious paramilitary unit, Liyu Police Abdirahman Burale for serious human rights violations including operating the infamous Jail Ogaden which Mr. Omar used to silence dissent during his eight-year tenure.
“To break with the past, Ethiopia’s government needs to ensure justice for more than a decade of horrific abuses in the Somali region,” said Maria Burnett, East, and Horn of Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s reform agenda should include that those responsible for serious human rights violations, however powerful, no longer avoid justice.”
Following uprisings in the region, the Ethiopian army and the federal police were ordered to enter the region to maintain peace at the invitation of the Somali Regional Council.
The army took over the security of the volatile eastern Somali region.
The deployment led to a standoff between the federal forces and the region’s paramilitary Liyu police and sparked protests by residents in the regional capital Jigjiga and Dire Dawa. It is reported that dozens of people died.
Properties were also looted including banks and businesses as well as targeted killings of non-Somalis.
The normalcy returned days later after the federal government forced Mr. Omar to step down.
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