Wednesday September 4, 2024
MP Mohamed Abiib delivers a fiery speech to his supporters in Borama, Awdal region, on July 20, 2024, following an unsuccessful attempt to impeach him in the Somaliland House of Representatives.
Hargeisa (HOL) — The Somaliland government has announced that MP Mohamed Abiib Yusuf will face trial on treason charges, alleging that he engaged in activities to destabilize the state.
Deputy Minister of Interior Abdillahi Hussein Mohamed revealed that the case against Abiib had been pending before the House of Representatives for some time. The government's decision to proceed with legal action follows the failure of the House to address the allegations against Abiib. "He travelled abroad and met with individuals working to destabilize Somaliland. Since the parliament failed to fulfill its duty, security agencies were forced to take legal action," said the minister.
The government claims that Abiib met with figures abroad who were actively working to undermine Somaliland's sovereignty. Despite these accusations, Abiib has denied any wrongdoing, calling the charges politically motivated and part of a broader effort by the administration to target its critics.
Abiib has been a vocal opponent of President Muse Bihi's administration, frequently criticizing its handling of political and social issues. In a press statement, Abiib rejected the previous attempts to silence him, calling them politically motivated. "These charges are fabricated to silence anyone questioning the government's failures." He further insisted that his loyalty to Somaliland was unwavering and that his actions were not criminal.
Deputy Minister Mohamed emphasized that Abiib's arrest was not due to his political opposition or criticisms of the Somali National Movement (SNM) or tribalism. "This is about treason, and we have solid evidence to back up the charges, which will be presented in court," he stated.
The government has also accused other members of parliament, whose names have not been disclosed, of collaborating with Abiib in activities intended to destabilize the state. The minister indicated that these MPs would also face legal action, suggesting a broader political purge may be underway.
The charges come after months of tension between Abiib and the government. His arrest at Hargeisa's Egal International Airport on Monday after returning from the United Arab Emirates follows an unsuccessful attempt by the government to strip him of his parliamentary immunity.
Efforts to impeach Abiib have been marred by failures this summer. The first attempt to strip him of his parliamentary immunity occurred in July when the Somaliland House of Representatives failed to meet the quorum requirement, with only 49 MPs attending, short of the 55 needed to proceed. The Permanent Committee of the House declared the impeachment illegal due to these procedural errors. In a second attempt this week, the House again convened an emergency session after Abiib's controversial arrest, where 51 of the 57 MPs present voted to dismiss the charges, further complicating the government's efforts to prosecute him.
Abiib's arrest and pending trial have sparked intense backlash from opposition figures and members of the Awdal region, which he represents. Opposition politicians have condemned the arrest, accusing the government of using the judiciary to target its critics.
A trial date has yet to be set.
FILE - Deputy Minister of Interior Abdillahi Hussein Mohamed addresses the media during a press conference in Hargeisa.