MOGADISHU (SD) – The immediate Former Education Minister Godah Barre has threatened legal action against Somali federal government, accusing it of enforcing colonial rule in Hiiraan region.

Speaking to the media, Barre said the government turned Beledweyne town into air open camp through curfews and destruction of the economy.

He warned Somali government against using what termed “collective punishment” on locals.

“This new method that the government is using against people of Hiraan, is a technique used by the colonizers. They include a curfew and crippling the economy,” he said “These are part of what we witnessed in Beledweyne, it is what people forced to protest against and it is what eventually could lead us to a bigger problem, if not addressed.”

The remarks of the minister comes barely four days after huge demonstrations against Hirshabelle administration in Beledweyne town, that resulted injuries of four people..

The region has witnessed violence recent months after militiamen by General Abukar Warsame took arms the Hirshabelle government by Ali Guudlaawe,

The renegade general and his faction are protesting the election of Ali Guudlaawe as the president of HirShabelle, arguing his election violated clan power matrix.

Attempts by authorities in Hiiraan region to engage Hud’s faction failed last month.