By HAN News Desk
MOGADISHU — Somali security forces raided a hotel in the capital Mogadishu overnight where federal lawmakers from the semi-autonomous Puntland were staying, injuring two members of parliament and detaining a senior adviser to the Puntland president, according to lawmakers and police statements on Wednesday.
The operation was carried out by security agencies of the Federal Government of Somalia during the pre-dawn meal time of Ramadan, witnesses and legislators told Horn Africa News. The lawmakers had recently returned to Mogadishu after previously being turned back from travel in recent days amid growing political tensions.
Several members of the Federal Parliament of Somalia confirmed that security forces stormed the hotel where they were staying. Two lawmakers were reportedly injured during the raid, although the extent of their injuries was not immediately clear.
During the operation, security personnel detained Ahmed Abdi Mahmoud Hurre, an adviser to Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, who had been staying at the hotel alongside the lawmakers. Sources said the group had been effectively confined to the hotel for several days.
In a written statement, the Somali Police Force said Hurre was detained over alleged activities considered a threat to national security, though authorities did not provide further details about the accusations.
Officials also alleged that the adviser had been involved in distributing funds sent from a foreign country with the intention of bribing federal lawmakers. According to the authorities, the alleged payments were linked to efforts to influence members of parliament involved in discussions on amendments to Somalia’s provisional constitution.
The constitutional review process has been a major source of political dispute in Somalia, with disagreements between the federal government and some regional administrations, particularly Puntland, over governance arrangements, power sharing and the structure of the federal system.
The raid comes at a time of heightened political tensions between leaders in Mogadishu and the Puntland administration. The dispute centers on constitutional reforms and the broader relationship between federal institutions and regional states.
Analysts say the incident could further strain relations between the federal government and Puntland, raising concerns about political stability as Somalia continues efforts to rebuild state institutions after decades of conflict.
Authorities have not yet said whether additional arrests will be made or whether the detained adviser will face formal charges.
