Garowe Online (Garowe)
3 March 2008
The governor of Mudug region in Somalia's State of Puntland has denied media reports that he was detained last week by Ethiopian soldiers.
Abdirashid Dhubane, who was sacked from the governor's post yesterday, told a press conference in the Mudug provincial capital Galkayo that he went to Ethiopia for government-related business.
Mr. Dhubane returned to Galkayo Sunday night, hours after Puntland President Mohamud "Adde" Muse issued a decree officially relieving Dhubane of his post as the governor of Mudug.
Abdirashid Dhubane addressing Galkayo crowd in 2006/HR
The decree did not specify the reason why Mr. Dhubane was fired, but it is linked to reports that he was arrested by Ethiopian intelligence.
Sources in Galkayo confirmed to Garowe Online that Dhubane, who reportedly has close relations with Ethiopian intelligence, was detained Saturday evening and transported to Ethiopia.
It is not clear why Ethiopian intelligence arrested Dhubane, but confidential sources said Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf personally requested the Ethiopians to release the former Mudug governor.
But on Monday, Dhubane categorically denied reports of his arrest, saying that the reports were distributed by his "enemies."
"Ethiopian troops can go anywhere they want in Somalia," Dhubane told the press conference in Galkayo.
Some Galkayo residents who spoke with Garowe Online said they were relieved that the "corrupt and incompetent" Dhubane was finally gone, but remained worried about the Ethiopian army's conduct inside Somalia.
One resident said: "They are going to the home of a governor and arresting him, so imagine about the rest of us locals."
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