Somali PM delists ONLF as terror group amid fallout with Farmajo

ONLF which fought in the Somali regional state in Ethiopia has welcomed the decision and commended PM Roble and his cabinet for the move, which the rebel group termed as historic and praiseworthy.

News Keydmedia Online
23 January 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The cabinet ministers of Somalia de-listed the Ogaden National Liberation Front [ONLF] as a terror group, a decision that adds fuel to brewing tension in the country.

During an emergency on Sunday, the cabinet approved the reversal of the 2017 decision by the previous government led by Hassan Ali Khaire after the rendition of Abdikarim Muse Qalbi-Dhagah to Ethiopia.

The cabinet approved a decision to reverse an earlier decision in 2017, which recognized the ONLF as a terrorist organization after the extradition of Qalbi Dhagah to Ethiopia,” said the cabinet in a statement.

The meeting chaired by PM Roble called the ONLF commander’s rendition to Addis Ababa illegal.

ONLF which fought in the Somali regional state in Ethiopia has welcomed the decision and commended PM Roble and his cabinet for the move, which the rebel group termed as historic and praiseworthy.

This is a lesson to those who transgress against the just rights of peoples,” said ONLF.

This comes amid a political rift between Roble and the outgoing president Farmajo that appears to be affecting earlier government decisions, including the seizure of UAE’s $9.6 million and the ONLF issue.

The ousted Khaire's government captured Qalbi Dhagax in Galmudug and handed him over to Ethiopia, as he was a member of the ONLF, saying his presence in the country was a threat to national security.

The decision was approved by the outgoing Somalia parliament. Ethiopia has held Qalbi Dhagah for one year and he was released from prison in 2018 after Abiy Ahmed assumed office as the country’s PM.

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