JIGJIGA (Halbeeg News) – Former regional president of the Somali region in Ethiopia, Abdi Mohamed Omar has been arraigned in court for the 3rd time.
Mr. Omar who today appeared in a court in Addis Ababa town faces charges of human rights abuses and tortures against prisoners in Jigjiga jail.
During his reign, the Liyu Police, a paramilitary forces formed in the region, was severally accused of gross human rights abuse leading to deaths, displacement, imprisonment, torture, and targeting of dissenting voices in a notorious jail in Jigjiga town.
The Human Rights group had documented hundreds of people were killed by the state, including many who are still registered as disappeared.
Last Month, the region’s authorities announced the closure of the notorious prison in Jigjiga town.
The facility was reported to be one of the tools of repression used by Mohamud.
The July 2018 HRW report on Jail Ogaden also called on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to probe widespread rights abuses routinely carried out on inmates.
The 88-page report asserted that “Prison officials and security forces have arbitrarily detained and tortured prisoners for years in the notorious regional prison known as Jail Ogaden.
“Ethiopia’s new prime minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, should urgently order investigations into the horrific situation, and the government should ensure regional security forces and officials are held accountable.
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