The police in the breakaway Somaliland have detained an outspoken elder in latest string of arrests against elders, journalists and human activists in northern Somalia.
Mohamed Muse Une has been arrested from a mosque in Burao town shortly after evening prayer.
Relatives who spoke to the media said the elder was coming out of a mosque on Saturday evening when he was intercepted by police officers.
” Mohamed Muse Une, a well known traditional elder was detained by Somaliland police, the elder was heading home from Mosque just after Maqrib prayer,” said a relative who confirmed the arrest to the media.
The Somaliland Police have not yet specified the motive behind the arrest of the elder.
Une reportedly accused Somaliland Interior Minister, Mohamed Kahin Ahmed of fueling clan clashes in El-Afweyne town in Sanaag region.
The arrest of the elder comes on heel of sentence of outspoken traditional elder by a court in Hargeisa.
Osman Aw Mohamud alias Boqor Burmadow was sentenced to five years in jail after he attended the crowning of another elder in Somaliland’s rival regional state, Puntland.
Recently Somaliland authorities have stepped up the crackdown against those suspected of backing the unity of Somalia and critics of the authorities.
The move by Somaliland authorities was condemned by human rights agencies saying the authoritarian operations could undermine the freedom of expression and international law of human rights.
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