Somalia drops all cases against ex-minister accused of serious crimes

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Former Jubaland security minister Abdirashid Janan has had all cases against him dropped, a fortnight after he defected from Jubaland, despite working closely with the administration of Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe.

Janan, who had been instrumental in the administration of Madobe, shocked his supporter's aftershock move that saw him pledge allegiance to outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, who has been his foe, in almost all political fronts.

It's not clear why Abdirashid Janan chose to work with the Mogadishu administration, which he has opposed for several years now. While in charge of security, Janan was behind close cooperation between Jubaland security forces and the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF].

In a letter seen exclusively by Garowe Online, the federal government of Somalia has since dropped Janan's cases, which ranged from violation of human rights to serious crimes in Gedo, some of which were advanced by the UN.

Amnesty International has called on the Somali government to arrest the wanted former Jubaland security minister and face justice for the atrocities he committed against innocent civilians.  

Two letters from the Attorney General and the Benadir Regional Court state that the case file of Abdirashid Janan has been closed. The Attorney General did not give substantive reasons with regard to the latest development.

In December 2015, the Benadir Regional Court issued an arrest warrant for Abdirashid Janan on charges of human rights abuses. Since then, the former minister has been engaging local militia against the government, before he decamped to the administration of Farmajo.

Abdirashid Janan is accused by the UN Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group of horrific crimes including killings, torture, unlawful detention, and illegal renditions between 2014 and 2015.

Actually, a year ago, Janan escaped from a Mogadishu prison and was termed a hero by the administration of Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe. He has been operating around Mandera in Kenya with fighters loyal to him before he decided to decamp.

GAROWE ONLINE