Djibouti hands ONLF driver to Somaliland

BERBERA — The government of Djibouti extradited a wanted Somaliland fugitive to Hargeisa on Wednesday to serve his jail term in Mandera.
According to Elmi Robleh Fure, Somaliland’s chief police commissioner Djibouti authorities handed over Mohammad Yusuf Odawa who has been on the run for the last five months.
Mr. Fure told BBC Somali-Services that Odawa was wanted over an incident in September 2010 in which local men smuggled in fighters belonging to Ethiopian rebel group into Somaliland territory.
On September 10th, about 200 Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) rebels arrived in the small fishing town of Bulle-Adde, situated between Zeila and Lughaya, by two boats from Eritrea. After hiding in remote areas for a day they travelled overland to the border using three trucks the next day. Police insist Mr. Odawa was one of the three truck drivers transporting the group over to Ethiopia.
All three truck drivers were initially arrested during clashes between the ONLF rebels and Somaliland forces backed by Ethiopian troops near the Marmar mountains, a region bordering Ethiopia and Djibouti.
However during a massive demonstration in Borama, Mr Odawa was able to escape with the help of friends and family. He has been on the run ever since.
In November 2010, President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo visited the Djibouti republic in which the two states agreed collaborating in the areas of security, trade and development.

Mr Fure

The police commissioner said a military court sentenced Mohammad Yusuf Odawa in his absence, to 16 years term of imprisonment in late September 2010. He added he will serve his term in Mandera prison.
The ONLF has been battling Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government for independence for the last two decades. In recent times, it has been trying to launch attacks against Addis Ababa using Somaliland territory.
The Somaliland government believes Eritrea is funding a clan militant in Somaliland’s Buhodle district in a move to force Somaliland to vacate its northern coastline by moving the bulk of its troops to disputed region.
In October 2010, the largest faction of the ONLF led by Selahadin Mao signed peace deals with the government of Meles in a bid to develop the region. Mr. Mao told international media his forces represent 80 per cent of the movement. Other ONLF members sharply denied the deals.
Somaliland maintains close bilateral relations with the government of Ethiopia and the two states have agreed to counter any threat to together.