Uganda/Somalia

Uganda frees Somali minister

Article published on the 2009-10-07 Latest update 2009-10-07 13:31 TU

Apolo Nsibambi, Prime Minister of Uganda
(Credit: Wikipedia)

Ugandan officials said Wednesday that they had released Somalia's junior Defence Minister Youssuf Mohamed Siad after he was mistakenly arrested late Tuesday in the capital, Kampala. Siad had entered the country by road through its border with Kenya. Authorities had ben tipped off to his entry in to the country.

"We followed him up. After the arrest was made he was identified as a minister," Ugandan official Felix Kulayigye told AFP. He said that once Siad was identified, he was not treated as a prisoner.

"Certainly he should have come by air. He should have notified us and travelled as a visiting foreign official," said Kulayigye.

Siad was a Somali warlord and former member of the Islamic Courts Militia before joining the transition government.

It is not known whether Siad will stay in Uganda, said Kulayigye.

"I don't know what his plans are, but he is now a free man," he added.