Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Islamic courts’ regional governor Sheik Abdurahman Ibrahim Maow said in a press conference that all NGOs active in the region are obliged to register with his office as soon as possible, not specifying the expiry date of the registration.
“We want to know the number of NGOs working here and what they are engaged in, because they may be involved in other things rather than humanitarian work,” the Islamist regional governor said on Monday.
“Any NGO that doesn’t abide by our orders will be recognized as a law-breaking NGO and will be outlawed,” Ibrahim Maow added.
“This call for registration does not mean that we are going to restrict the work of NGOs here, but we have to know where they work and exactly what they do. This is a way of ensuring their security,” he added.
Fighters loyal to the Union of Islamic courts of Somalia reoccupied Somalia’s central Hiiraan Region after the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces early last month.
Islamic courts ruled south-central Somali regions during the second half of 2006, before they were defeated by Somali government and Ethiopian troops supported by jet fighters.
Source: APA, Oct 21, 2008