Mohamed Omar Arte Qalib was arrested at Hargeisa airport and no reason was given.

Mr Qalib had been in the city for the past few months.

The former deputy premier had been pardoned by Somaliland President Muse Bihi in October 2020 for opposing Somaliland's independence.

He resigned as a member of Somalia's parliament in order to be able to visit his ailing father, who later died in Hargeisa.

President Bihi recently issued an order banning people in the region from participating in the political activities of the Somali government, and warned that those who dare do so would not be pardoned.