Human Rights Watch claimed Saturday that the US, Kenya, and Ethiopia are cooperating with the transitional government of Somalia to secretly detain people who have fled the recent conflict there. HRW deputy Africa director Georgette Gagnon said: "Each of these governments has played a shameful role in mistreating people fleeing a war zone. Kenya has secretly expelled people, the Ethiopians have caused dozens to ‘disappear,' and US security agents have routinely interrogated people held incommunicado."

Predominantly-Islamic Somalia has endured a lengthy civil war and several rounds of failed peace talks since the collapse of its last civil government in 1991.