Traditional leader arrested in Somaliland

The authorities in the self-declared republic of Somaliland have arrested Boqor (meaning king) Usman Mahmud, a prominent traditional elder, according to a senior government official.

Local sources in the capital Hargeysa said the Boqor was picked up by a contingent of police officers led by the Somaliland Police Muhammad Ige on Tuesday, from the Hargaysa Club hotel where he was staying.

Somaliland Interior Minister Isma'il Adan Usman told IRIN on Wednesday that the elder had been arrested for breaking Somaliland laws and "committing crimes against the existence of the state".

Boqor Usman is also being accused of "having contacts with Puntland [the neighbouring self-declared autonomous region]".

Tension has been high between Somaliland and Puntland over the Sool and Sanaag regions, which are claimed by both.

The Boqor had reportedly contacted Puntland authorities in an effort to ease the tension and avert armed confrontation, sources said. Isma'il, however, said that the Boqor "supports the reunification of Somaliland with Somalia and has therefore called into question the existence of the country [Somaliland]".

It is a crime under Somaliland law to advocate the reunification of Somaliland with the rest of Somalia.

Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 after the fall of former President Muhammad Siyad Barre. It has remained relatively free from the chaos and war still ravaging other parts of Somalia, but has failed to gain recognition as an independent country.

Isma'il said Boqor Usman "is like any other person who breaks the law. He will not be treated differently. The law will take its course."

The Boqor is also accused of trying to damage Somaliland's relationship with Djibouti and Ethiopia. "We have documentary evidence against him," said the minister, adding that he would be brought to court "as soon as police complete their investigations".

Boqor Usman is a senior traditional leader of the Habar Ja'lo sub-clan, numerically one of the three largest subclans of the Isaq, the dominant clan in northwestern Somalia.