Somaliland President Pardons a Former Somalia Deputy Prime Minister

Hargeisa (PP News Desk) — President of Somaliland Muse Bihi Abdi pardoned Mohamed Omar Arteh Qalib, the former Deputy Prime Minister of the Somali Federal Government, a decision that had paved the way for Arteh’s return to Hargeisa.

“Having considered the recommendation from Somaliland Attorney General regarding a pardon request, I have decided to grant a pardon to Mr Mohamed Omar Arteh Qalib, who changed his political stance” reads the statement.

Pardon granted by President Muse Bihi Abdi made it easier for Mohamed Omar Arteh to return to Hargeisa.

Arteh was once a senior adviser for Somaliland Interior Ministry before forming Damal, a political association that had not become a political party in 2012 when party qualification elections were held throughout Somaliland. The pardon enabled Arteh to return to Hargeisa to be able to look after his father, the former Prime Minister Omar Arten Qalib.

Somaliland Government bars Northerners who held positions in the Federal Government institutions from returning to Hargeisa without a pardon request on the condition that they no longer question “the sovereignty of Somaliland”.

The pardon letter from Somaliland Presidency.

© Puntland Post, 2020