"Candidate Sheikh Mukhtar (Robow) was just beaten and arrested by Ethiopian (peacekeeping) forces in Baidoa now," said Muawiya Mudeey, a spokesman for Robow. "First he was called in by the interim president of South West state and when he reached that office, Ethiopian forces beat him terribly and they arrested him. Regional officials in Baidoa, the state capital of South West, could not immediately be reached for comment. The Mogadishu government tried to bar his presidential candidacy in South West because of remaining U.S. sanctions against him. It was driven out of the capital in 2011 but retains a strong presence in some areas including South West.

Source: Ethiopian News December 13, 2018 11:26 UTC