Borkena
Toronto – Mustafa Mohammed, Somali Regional State President, was in Kenya this week where he reportedly held talks with ethnic Somali community including from Garrisa area of Kenya – dominated by Ethnic Somalis
According to a BBC Amharic report, the purpose of his trip was “to strengthen cooperation between Somali communities in Ethiopia and Kenya.” The report unspecified if the trip was arranged by Ethiopia’s Federal government.
He gave interviews to BBC Amharic and BBC Somali language service during his working visit. He addressed questions in connection with the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), an armed rebel group operating in the Somali region of Ethiopia which has been making headlines in recent weeks, among other things.
Mustafa was also asked to remark about alleged corruption at the regional government level under his administration. His response was, “No corruption.” He stated that he is leading the ” the cleanest” administration since the establishment of the Somali regional state about thirty years ago. “I believe it is clean. Because you can not accomplish work while ‘eating’ the money.” Yet, he admitted that there might be problems as is the case elsewhere. He sees the allegation of corruption rather as a smear campaign.
The party was alleging that some of its members were arrested and the office in Jigjiga and other parts of the region were closed. ” Not a single member of this party is arrested in Jigjiga or other zones,” Mustafa replied to BBC Amharic.
However, Mustafa claimed that the party had organized a meeting without notifying the government before it happened. Police arrived at the scent after the completion of the meeting. Mustafa admitted there was some arrest but they were released after a few days. The party also had complaints that they were banned from entering their office in some areas like Errer. “That too is resolved,” he added.
It is also indicated that currently the party is splitted into two and both factions are operating in Jigjiga and other parts of the region. One of the faction under the leadership of Abdirahman Mehdi seems to have a tendency to resort to armed resistance. Mustafa says “there is no condition in the Somali region that forces ONLF to head to the wilderness. Yet, it is not something that bothers me. we know how to treat it if it comes that way.” He also claimed that people in the region will not allow that to happen.
Mustafa also alleged that ONLF is getting support from other countries and groups including from forces in “North Ethiopia.” Egypt is one of the countries implicated behind ONLF sentiment to resort to armed struggle. When the relation between Ethiopia’s Federal government and Somalia was on a collision course over MoU with Somaliland, Somalia was openly vowing to arm rebel groups from Ethiopia.
ONLF has not remarked about the allegation at the time of this writing.
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Patriot H.E. Mustafa Mohammed Is cut out to be a leader of not only the Somali Region but also the entire country. It is my honest conviction that any future Prime Minister should not come from the three ethnic groups of Oromos, Amharas and Tigre’s. Anyone from these three will bring burdensome baggage along to the office that it will pose too much and damaging distractions. So, for the next Prime Minister, I say, Brother Mustafa Mohammed or bust!!!
Let’s go!!!