Tuesday September 3, 2024
Hargeisa (HOL) – The Speaker of the Somaliland House of Representatives and opposition parties have condemned the arrest of lawmaker Mohamed Abib Yusuf, labeling it a violation of the constitution.
In a statement released on Monday, the Somaliland House of Representatives asserted that a lawmaker can only be arrested if involved in a criminal act, and that the House must be notified immediately—something that did not happen in this case.
"The Speaker of the House of Representatives declares to the people of the Republic of Somaliland that the arrest of Mohamed Abib Yusuf, who was detained today on September 2, 2024, in Hargeisa and taken to Madera prison, violates Article 49 of the constitution," the statement read.
The Speaker emphasized that the Constitution grants immunity to lawmakers, protecting their integrity from unlawful violations.
Somaliland's opposition parties, Waddani and Kaah, described the arrest as unconstitutional and demanded Yusuf's immediate release.
"Mohamed Abib is a member of the House of Representatives. The constitution has given him immunity; neither President Muse Bihi, the attorney general, nor the chairman of the Supreme Court has the authority to remove him from office. He should be released unconditionally," said a spokesperson for the Waddani party.
MP Mohamed Abib was arrested on Monday at Egal International Airport in Hargeisa upon his return from the United Arab Emirates, where he had recently criticized the Somaliland government and the Somali National Movement (SNM).
The authorities have not disclosed the exact reason for his detention. Abib has been an outspoken critic of President Muse Bihi's administration, accusing it of targeting those who challenge its policies.