MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s police said Wednesday they had arrested an adviser to Puntland President Saeed Deni in Mogadishu on allegations of undermining security, a move that risks deepening already escalating tensions between the federal government and the semi-autonomous region.
Police identified the official as Ahmed Abdi Mohamd Hurre and accused him of carrying out activities aimed at weakening and destabilizing security in the capital at the time of his arrest. Authorities said an investigation is underway.
Puntland officials rejected the accusation, describing the incident as a kidnapping. They said Hurre was staying at a hotel inside Mogadishu’s airport when security forces raided his room and detained him.
The regional administration further alleged that, following the arrest, security personnel abused and tortured Hurre and similarly mistreated federal lawmakers from Puntland who were residing in the same hotel compound.
The northeastern Somali state warned that the arrest could further strain relations with the federal government, which have grown increasingly tense in recent days.
The detention comes shortly after Somalia’s federal authorities ordered a plane carrying federal lawmakers from Puntland and other passengers to turn back midair when it was about 15 minutes from landing in Garowe, the capital of Puntland. Regional officials and the lawmakers described that incident as an abduction and an abuse of power.
The latest developments underscore mounting friction between Mogadishu and Puntland, raising concerns about stability amid an already fragile political climate.
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