Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency ( NISA) has on Friday in the capital Mogadishu apprehended Sultan Mohamed Hooley, a traditional elder who openly expressed support for the controversial Ethiopia- Somaliland port deal which Somalia has vehemently rejected.
According to security officials who confirmed the arrest to the media, the traditional elder is wanted for making remarks affirming the controversial agreement reached by Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the breakaway region of Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi on Monday.
NISA agents said that the outspoken elder is being held in custody in one of their centres for interrogation on his pro- Somaliland statements.
The local traditional leader was some days ago caught on video throwing weight behind the legitimacy and recognition of Somaliland as an independent State.
Hooley in an interview with a local media outlet emphasized that Somaliland is within its rights to enter agreement with another country without the consent and involvement of the Federal government of Somalia.
Somalia considers Somaliland as part of its region and maintains the view that the self-declared autonomous State cannot sign or enter into Memorandum of Understanding with sovereign country without its knowledge.
The traditional elder recently visited Hargeisa and parts of Somaliland where he meet with top government officials and is said to be a close ally of President Muse Bihi.
However, Somaliland leader has come out in public to defend his decision of signing an MOU with Ethiopia saying Mogadishu can not control Hargeisa as it is an independent State of its own.
