MOGADISHU, (HAN) – Somali security forces have arrested former Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Omar Ali Roble, along with prominent businessmen Ali Haji Iman and others including a man named Bulaale, in an operation carried out late Thursday evening in Mogadishu.
According to eyewitnesses and local reports, intelligence officers raided hotels where the three were staying, before detaining them and transferring them to an undisclosed location.
The detained individuals are said to be members of the opposition coalition known as the “Rescue Forum,” which has recently intensified its criticism of the federal government.
Sources indicate that all three men were among the political figures who earlier this week visited Wardhiigleey Police Station and Siinaay Market, areas that have become flashpoints for clashes between government forces and opposition-aligned groups.
As of tonight, the former minister and the two businessmen remain in custody, though Somali authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the reasons for their arrest.
The arrests come amid heightened political tensions in Mogadishu following violent confrontations between security forces and opposition-linked elements.
Wednesday’s clashes in Warta Nabada district left several people dead and injured, prompting calls for restraint and accountability.
The detentions are likely to further escalate tensions between the federal government and opposition figures, many of whom accuse authorities of using heavy-handed tactics to suppress dissent.
