On the extradition of Abdikarim Muuse to Ethiopia
By Liban Ahmad
Friday September 8, 2017
The rendition of Abdikarim Muuse to
the Ethiopian government has touched a raw nerve among many Somalis.
Before discussing whether the rendition is morally or legally
justifiable we have to remind ourselves of two principles at the heart
of the extradition story: 1- the right of the Somali citizen to live in
his country without fear of extradition 2- the government's right to
protect its citizens against actions of forces operating beyond the law.
These two principles are not mutually exclusive. The citizen's right
is inseparable from his/her obligation to adhere to the law of the land.
The only available evidence against Abdikarim Muuse is that he was a member of ONLF. There is no evidence that, while in Somalia, he was involved in activities against Ethiopia. ONLF statement on the extradition leaves little room for doubt about Abdikarim's political
commitment to wage a war against Ethiopia. Should the Somali government
honour its obligation towards its neighbour if it receives a request
for the extradtion of a suspect?
The
Federal Government of Somalia is bound by its commitments and
obligations domestically and internationally. No Somali government can
harbour forces against a nation state whose army is fighting alongside
the Somali forces against Al-shabaab. The Ethiopian government pardoned many ONLF fighters who renounced violence to take part in nation-building.
If you believe that any Somali federal member state has the responsibility to prevent any part of territories under its control from becoming a base for rebels at war with a neighbouring country, there is no reason to deny the Federal Government of Somalia the right to have a similar responsibility.
The
federal government cited an agreement signed by its predecessor
although the signatories - Abdikarim Guled and Mahad Salad - view it as
an agreement between a clan and Ethiopia. Was Mahad Salad in Jigjiga as a
clan representative or as a representative of the federal government?
People with a political agenda are using the extradition case as an
opportunity to organise a parliamentary motion against the Prime
Minister. ONLF has never had bases in Somalia. We have to assume its
former members in Somalia do not pose threat to Ethiopia. Such an
assumption is impossible to make if ONLF speaks on behalf of Abdikarim
Sheikh Muuse or if some people argue for federal government support for
ONLF's cause.
