Amnesty International has asked Kenya to immediately arrest and return to Somalia ex-Jubaland Minister for security Abdirashid Janan Abdinur who escaped from police to face trial human rights violations.
“The Kenyan authorities must immediately arrest and hand him over to the Federal Government of Somalia, who should conduct his trial in a manner that that meets international fair trial standards, without any further delays. Victims of his alleged crimes have waited patiently for justice and their hopes must not be frustrated,” Seif Magango, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes, said.
Magango said Abdirashid’s escape has left many victims of his alleged crimes, including the killing of civilians and obstruction of humanitarian aid, doubtful as to whether they would ever get justice.
“Now that his whereabouts are known, the authorities in Kenya and Somalia must move swiftly to ensure he is re-arrested and promptly tried so that justice and accountability is served,” Magango said.
Nur had been arrested in August last year at the Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu on accusations of serious human rights violations and killings in Gedo by the UN Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group.
Reports indicate Abdirashid Nur flew to Kenya from on Friday, January 31 after escaping on Tuesday.
According to CGTN Africa, Somalia’s Deputy Police Commissioner Zakia Hussein said that the authorities had launched a hunt for Nur and asked the public to volunteer any information that will lead to his capture.
“The former Jubaland Security Minister, Abdirashid Hassan (Janan), this morning escaped from the detention centre. Security agencies are pursuing him in a bid to re-arrest the suspect, who is accused of various crimes. The public should report if they see him,” Hussein tweeted.
VoA journalist Haruf Maruf reported that Janan escaped from a house near the National Intelligence and Security Agency headquarters where he was brought in just five days earlier through a window.
Somalia media reported that Nur’s escape might revive the strained relationship between the central government and Jubaland.
Soon after the escape, Chief of Staff in the Office of the President of Jubaland Abshir Mohamed confirmed Janan arrived in Kismayu.
He reportedly used a boat.
“After five months of illegal detention by the Somali Federal Government, Jubaland Security Minister, Hon. Abdirashid Hassan Abdinur(Janan) is safely back home in Kismayo,” Mohamed tweeted.
Soon thereafter, Jubbaland Minister of Planning Adam Hirsi resigned because the administration “celebrates, harbors a fugitive accused of human rights violations”.
“Effective today, I’ve resigned from my docket as the Minister of Planning of Jubaland. Conscience does not allow me to be a part of an administration that celebrates, harbors a fugitive accused of human rights violations. I thank my former boss for the privilege to serve,” he said.
