The Speaker of the Somaliland Senate, Saleebaan Mohamud Adan, called on the Somaliland government to unconditionally release the SSC Khaatumo prisoners held in Hargeisa, without exchanging them for Somaliland prisoners held in Lascaanod.
He said that releasing the Somaliland prisoners held in Lascaanod would not be an easy matter, as SSC Khaatumo wants Somaliland to accept its independence, a condition that the administration is making for their release.
“I would like to release the prisoners unconditionally, and hand them over to the ICRC, and they will report back. Whether we hold them or not; the government is dealing with prisoners from the Somaliland community, that is wrong,” said Speaker Saleebaan.
He said that there are traditional leaders who have volunteered and are working on peacemaking, and therefore they should be entrusted with peace and prisoner release issues. But for Somaliland to negotiate directly with SSC Khaatumo is a flaw.
He accused the Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, of undermining peace between Somaliland and SSC Khaatumo, and that the recent steps taken by his government to recognize SSC Khaatumo are a threat to security.
The SSC Khaatumo administration recently unconditionally released 25 prisoners from among the hundreds of Somaliland prisoners held in Lascaanod. The administration said that these prisoners were in exceptional circumstances.
Puntland and Somaliland also exchanged 26 prisoners captured during the Lascaanod war, with both sides agreeing to the exchange.
There is still no official agreement between Somaliland and SSC Khaatumo regarding the conflict, and it is not known when the prisoners they are holding will be exchanged.
