A number of refugees from the Ogaden region, handed over to the EPRDF by the authorities of Somaliland, have disappeared while in custody. The government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, denounced previously by SOCEPP for its gross violation of rights in the Ogaden, has once again refused to give account of the "disappeared".

The following are some of the people handed over by Somaliland to the EPRDF at a border post called Baligubadle. The detainees were taken to Jijiga and consequently to Harar before being "disappeared". We have the names of the following:

1. Mukhtar Moalin Yusuf 2. Khadar Abdi Haji 3. Mustafa Sheikh

4. Hussein Moalin 5. Abdiaziz Ahmed 6. Badel aw Ahmed

7. Ahmed Dahir 8. Abdi Haji

The authorities in Somaliland have now detained many refugees from Ethiopia and there are reports that as of December 4/2003 a group of EPRDF security men are in Hargeisa trying to pick those they want from the detained refugees. It is to be noted that the authorities in Ethiopia and Somaliland have close relations on matters of security cooperation. Reportedly, at least two anti-EPRDF organizations, the Ogaden National Liberation Front and the Oromo Liberation Front have sympathizers amidst the refugees in Somaliland. There are also some officers and soldiers of the former military government of Mengistu Haile Mariam and most fear fort heir lives if they are to return to Ethiopia.