Saturday June 22, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) - The Somali government has refuted allegations made by two Somali opposition lawmakers who linked their brief detention in Nairobi last week to the federal government of Somalia.
The two federal government lawmakers, Ahmed Abdi Kooshin, who is also the Secretary of the Defense Committee, and Hassan Abdinoor, said undercover officers detained them and accused them of working against the Somali federal government.
The Somalia National News Agency (SONNA) reported that the Somali government expressed regret that two members of the Federal Parliament of Somalia had their security compromised in Nairobi, Kenya.
"However, the government strongly refutes the claims from the MPs that the incident is linked to the Government of Somalia. The Federal Government of Somalia stands for working and encouraging freedom of speech and political opinions in accordance with the constitutional rights of Somali citizens, wherever they are," stated the Somali government.
The state-owned media agency added that Somalia and Kenya maintain a good relationship based on good neighborliness and mutual respect. It also noted that the members of the Somali Parliament who encountered this incident should contact the security agencies of Kenya, which are responsible for ensuring the security and protection of people and guests in their country.
Security officers detained the two parliamentarians after they returned from a hotel in Kilimani and were heading to another nearby hotel. The lawmakers stated that they had no formal government meetings or organized plans in Nairobi aside from casual gatherings at restaurants or for tea.