Activists and residents of Garissa holding placards calling
for the release of Senator Elyas Bala and 17 others.
Senator Elyas Badal GaboseGarissa-based human rights activists are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Senator Elyas Badal Gabose and 33 others who reportedly remain under house arrest in Jubaland, Somalia.
Senator Gabose, a representative of Jubaland in Somalia’s Upper House, was a presidential contender in the recently concluded Jubaland elections.
Speaking to the press in Garissa on Wednesday, the activists described the seven-month-long house arrest as a blatant violation of fundamental rights.
They expressed concerns that the ongoing detention could destabilize the region’s peace and security.
“We, as human rights defenders from Garissa County, express our deep concern and outrage over the continued house arrest of Senator Elyas Badal Gabose and 33 others by the Jubaland administration,” said Abdirizack Garow, one of the activists.
“Placing a sitting senator and fellow citizens under house arrest without due process is a clear violation of their fundamental rights and freedoms. Such actions undermine democracy, justice, and the rule of law, setting a dangerous precedent for political repression in the region,” he added.
The activists urged the immediate restoration of freedom of movement, expression, and association for the detained individuals.
They also called upon regional and international bodies—including IGAD, the African Union, and the United Nations—to pressure the Jubaland administration to uphold human rights.
Hussein Osman, another activist from Garissa, emphasized the importance of democratic stability in the region.
“As residents of Garissa County, we want to see a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous Jubaland,” he said.
Osman further appealed to the Kenyan government to intervene diplomatically to ensure justice and maintain stability in northeastern Kenya.
“This issue transcends regional politics; it affects national stability,” he said. “
"I call on the Kenyan government to act urgently and resolve this matter diplomatically for the sake of Northeastern Kenya and the country as a whole.”
The calls for justice follows the contested presidential election in Jubaland on November 25, 2024.
President Ahmed Madobe was re-elected for a third term, securing 55 of 75 parliamentary votes and defeating his closest rival, Faisal Abdi Matan, who garnered 16 votes. Abubakar Abdi Hassan received 4 votes.
This election came after a controversial amendment to the Jubaland Constitution that removed presidential term limits and extended the term from four to five years—paving the way for Madobe’s third term. However, Somalia’s Federal Government in Mogadishu has rejected the election outcome, calling the process “unlawful."
The political fallout has deepened tensions between federal and regional forces, exposing the country’s fragile balance over regional autonomy and election protocols
