07/08/2025
Subject: Urgent Appeal: Escalating Repression of Human Rights and Press Freedom in Somaliland
Dear Sir/Madam,
We, the undersigned human rights defenders, diaspora leaders, grassroots democracy activists, and concerned citizens of Somaliland, write to express our deep alarm over the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation and the intensifying crackdown on independent journalism and freedom of expression in Somaliland.
Since January 2025, the government of President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi ‘Irro’ has significantly escalated efforts to silence dissenting voices and suppress civic space. This campaign has led to a surge in politically motivated arrests, intimidation of journalists, and systemic violations of fundamental rights.
A particularly alarming case is that of respected independent journalist Ahmed Mohamoud Dool, who was arbitrarily arrested and held incommunicado. On August 4, 2025, Mr. Dool was summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Hargeisa by its newly appointed commander. Upon arrival, he was detained without a warrant and without being informed of any charges. That same evening, he was interrogated about a Facebook post reporting on the killing of a civilian in Hargeisa two days prior.
On August 5, 2025, Mr. Dool was brought before the Hargeisa Regional Court without legal counsel. The police requested and were granted a four-day extension of his detention. He remains in custody at the CID headquarters. His case marks a dangerous milestone—he is the 20th journalist arrested in Somaliland since January 2025, underscoring a clear pattern of repression against independent media.
Members of the Somaliland Parliament have publicly denounced these unlawful detentions and called for Mr. Dool’s immediate release. The Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA) has also condemned his arrest and demanded accountability.
This is not an isolated incident. In April 2025, journalist Abdiqadir Mohamed Aw Hassan was sentenced by the Hargeisa Regional Court to six months in prison on vague charges of “insulting the president.” After serving two months, his family was forced to secure his early release by signing a notarized agreement on July 13, 2025, pledging that he would refrain from further criticism of the government.
In early July 2025, Ahmed Hassan Caawiye, a young politician from the ruling Waddani party, was arrested at night near his home in Massalaha village, Hargeisa, by members of the Somaliland National Intelligence Service. His eyes were blindfolded and he was held for seven days in an undisclosed location—later revealed by an intelligence officer to be the agency’s headquarters. During this time, no visits were allowed, and his family was unable to locate him despite searching all police stations in the city. Mr. Caawiye was reportedly detained for criticizing high-ranking government officials, including ministers and senior intelligence officers. On July 17, 2025, his family, including his father, was coerced into signing a notarized letter promising that Mr. Caawiye would cease all public criticism of the government.
In June 2025, veteran journalist Mohamoud Abdi Jama, widely known as Xuuto—former SOLJA Chairman and recipient of the 2011 Free Press Africa Award—was targeted for arrest by the former Commander of the Criminal Investigation Department. Facing imminent detention without charges, he fled Somaliland and is now living in exile in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
These cases illustrate a disturbing pattern of repression that violates international human rights law, including the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and due process. The sustained targeting of journalists and civic voices has created a chilling effect, silencing dissent and eroding the democratic fabric of Somaliland.
We urgently call upon:
• International human rights organizations
• Press freedom and journalist protection groups
• Democratic governments
• United Nations human rights mechanisms
to:
1. Publicly condemn these ongoing violations;
2. Demand the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Ahmed Mohamoud Dool;
3. Call for an end to arbitrary arrests, harassment, and intimidation of journalists, media workers, and human rights defenders;
4. Support the establishment of independent monitoring mechanisms and emergency protection for at-risk journalists and their families in Somaliland.
Additionally, we urge international media solidarity networks and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent legal, financial, and psychological support to the affected journalists and their families.
The international community must not remain silent. Swift and coordinated action is imperative to uphold human rights, defend press freedom, and prevent the further erosion of democratic values in Somaliland.
Sincerely,
Suleiman Xuquuq
Prominent Human Rights Defender
Hargeisa Young Girls in Sport Association
Horn Watch