Hundreds deported from autonomous Somali region of Puntland over security concerns

Hundreds deported from autonomous Somalia region

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Security forces from Somalia’s semiautonomous northern region of Puntland are rounding up hundreds of southerners whom officials say pose security threat.

Security Minister Yusuf Ahmed Khayr said Wednesday the crackdown targets people who came from the war-raved southern regions.

Puntland, which declared itself an autonomous state within Somalia in 1998, has generally been spared the violence that has wracked much of Somalia’s southern and central regions.

The region is afraid that the violence in the south may spill over into its territory.

Activist Khadija Dahir said about 500 people were deported. She called the move “unacceptable and clear violation against innocent refugees who fled from violence.”