Former Ethio-Somali region president appears before court over rights abuses

ADDIS ABABA - The former President of the Somali region in Ethiopia, Abdi Mohamed Omar, known as [Abdi Illey] appeared before the court, days after the state stripped him of immunity, along with 6 other officials, Garowe Online reports.

Local media reported that the ex-leader and others officials arraigned in court on Wednesday to face charges of gross human rights abuses, fraud, instigating ethnic violence and arbitrary arrest and detention of opponents in the Somali state.

Below are the members appeared before the court:

1 - Abdi Mohamed Omar –Former leader of Ethiopian-Somali regional state
2 - Abdijemal Kelonbi - Head of Justice Bureau
3 - Rahma Mohammed – Head of Women’s and Children’s Bureau
4 - Ibrahim Mehdi - Head of Education Bureau
5 - Dek Abdulahi – Deputy Head of Water Resource Development Bureau
6 - Ibrahim Mohammed Mubarak – Mayor of Jigjiga
7 - Omer Abdi – Political Affairs Head of the Ethiopian Somali People Democratic Party (ESPDP)

Abdi Illey was arrested on Monday by the Federal Police at his residence near Atlas hotel in Addis Ababa. Five AK-47 assault rifles and four pistols were discovered in his house, Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) said, citing the attorney general.

On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW), which documented human rights violations in the Somali regional state in Ethiopia, welcomed the arrest of Abdi Illey as a ‘start to justice’ for victims of serious crimes committed by Liyu Police.

GAROWE ONLINE