Hafsa Mursal
The immigration forces of Somaliland has started earlier today to arrest and deport any ‘foreigner’ in Hargeisa city especially those from Ethiopia.
The authorities were seen roaming the streets of Hargeisa, arresting mothers and other elderly people who were said to be Ethiopian Nationals, bringing them all in one place to repatriate them.
It was on Saturday when Somaliland was reported to have deported 700 Somali Nationals in an operation in Las-Anod town. speaking to the media, the regional police chief said,” the operation targeted illegal immigrants from Somalia and Ethiopia.”
Those affected include children born by parents with Somali nationality in the breakaway Somaliland.
The United Nations for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ( Affairs) in a statement posted on their Twitter handle regretted about the forced deportation calling on the Somaliland authorities to respect the rights of the people to live wherever they want in the World.
“The Humanitarian Community deeply regrets and subsequent forced displacements of more than 1,000 women, children and men from Las-Anod, Sool Region on 2nd and 3rd October.” Said in a tweet.
The humanitarian community* deeply regrets the arrest & subsequent forced displacements of more than 1,000 women, children and men from Las Canood, Sool Region on 2 and 3 October. Read the statement; https://t.co/AmqpKyU9dC pic.twitter.com/Kq8WxdNAoJ
— OCHA Somalia (@OCHASom) October 4, 2021
Somalia Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble condemned the forceful evictions of people believed to be foreigners in Las’anood by Somaliland government urging the authorities to allow the Somalis to work and live in their places.
Ra’iisul Wasaaraha XFS Mudane @MohamedHRoble ayaa nasiib darro ku tilmaamay tallaabadii dad Soomaaliyeed si qasab ah looga soo masaafuriyay degmada Laascaanood, falkaas oo uu ku tilmaamay mid aad looga xumaado. pic.twitter.com/ocDMaMNoou
— OPM Somalia ?? (@SomaliPM) October 3, 2021
However, Somaliland government in a quick response defended their decision to repatriate Somali from the Southern Somalia saying they are an impediment to get security and having wreacking havoc in their Las anood area which had witnessed series of sustained spates of killing in the recent days.
Press Statement
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"The Somaliland Government maintains close and cooperative relations with all its neighbours, including over issues of migration and border control, which it conducts with all due adherence to international law." pic.twitter.com/YANmCiUjWQ— MFA Somaliland (@somalilandmfa) October 5, 2021
Somaliland says that they will continue deporting anyone who is believed to be from Somalia intimating that only bonafide Somaliland citizens will be left behind in their area of jurisdiction.
Somaliland is seeking international recognition since 1991 after the toppling of the heavy handed regime of Siyad Barre which led to the country descend into decades of civil war and triggered displacement of people.
Additional reporting by Suleiman Sabdow.
