Hargeysa (Tusaale 01 March 2017) – Somaliland government has deported two Danish humanitarian agencies international staff from Hargeisa, after they allegedly committed religious discrimination against local staff, the national planning Minister told the media.

Danish Demining Group (DDG) is a Humanitarian Mine Action Unit in the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), that has been operating in Somaliland since 1999 but started working in Somalia since October 2007.

Mohamed Ibraahim, Somaliland’s National Planning Minister has confirmed the deportation of the two high ranking officials of DDG for allegedly “Committing actions against the Islam religion.” Nicola Naidu, British by nationality, has been serving as the DDG Country Director and she warned one of the local drivers not to pray after she arrived at the Airport while the driver, who supposed to pick her up, was praying in the Mosque at the Airport. Tusaale Media Network learnt that the driver went to Mosque after her flight had delayed. The deported officer gave the driver a written warning which seemed to the staff and the government an action against the religion.

David Selby, American by nationality, on the other hand, was the DDG Somaliland Area Manager since Jan 2015, and according to the minister he “Showed hatred against the Islamic pray call – Addan’. In addition, though the Organization has not comment it yet, but the Minister told the media that the deported staff has been fired by the Organization – DDG.

Somaliland which reclaimed its independent from Somalia in 1991 after 30 years of failed union, is internationally not recognized yet.

SOURCE:Tusaale Multimedia Network