Hundreds of Somali nationals in Zambia were on Friday attested and taken to a stadium under unclear circumstances.

Mohamud Mohamed Hassan, a community leader in Lusaka told HOL the arrests started after the Friday prayers but the motive was not immediately clear.

Those arrested included men, women and children who were taken in buses to a stadium in the copperbelt region of Ndola in north-central part of Zambia.

However, almost all of them were later released after their documents were checked by security officials. Only 40 people remained in police custody, Hassan said.

 

Hassan said Somalis in Zambia are law abiding and have contributed to the country's economic growth.

"Somalis in Zambia are law abiding citizens. They operate successfull businesses throughout the country that employ thousands of people and contribute to the local economy. The authorities should avoid mass detention."

 

Meanwhile the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mogadishu said it was following up the matter with Zambian authorities for clarification on the arrests.

"MFA is closely monitoring alleged reports of mass arrests of Somalis in Ndola, Zambia, based on their ethnicity, irrespective of nationality, is a cause of concern and presently engaging authorities in Zambia for clarity and resolving this unfortunate event expeditiously," the Ministry said in a tweet.

There was no immediate comment from Zambian authorities on the mass arrests