Somaliland

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People take part in celebrations of the 27th anniversary of self-declared independence of Somaliland in Hargeisa, on May 15, 2018. Somaliland police on July 30, 2019, arrested four Eryal TV journalists filming a corruption story in Hargeisa. (Mustafa Saeed/AFP)

Somaliland police arrest Eryal TV journalists filming corruption story

On July 30, 2019, police in the breakaway region of Somaliland arrested four journalists from privately owned Eryal TV, according to statements issued by the press rights group Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA) and the non-governmental organization Human Rights Centre-Somaliland.

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Police officers are seen in Hargeysa, Somaliland, on May 18, 2015. Police recently shut down two TV stations in the breakaway region. (Reuters/Feisal Omar)

Authorities in Somaliland shut down 2 TV stations for ‘threatening national security’

Nairobi, June 19, 2019 — Authorities in the breakaway region of Somaliland should immediately lift an indefinite ban on two privately owned television stations, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A young man looks through a book at the Hargeisa International Book Fair in the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa on July 21, 2018. Somaliland authorities recently issued a one-year suspension of the privately owned Foore newspaper. (Mustafa Saeed/AFP)

Somaliland court suspends newspaper for one year for publishing ‘false news’

Nairobi, February 15, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed deep concern about a one-year suspension imposed by a Somaliland court on the privately owned Foore newspaper, and called on authorities to drop the charges on appeal.

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President Muse Bihi Abdi addresses a press conference in Hargeisa, Somaliland, in November 2017. Muse Bihi's government suspended critical daily newspaper Waaberi, claiming problems with its ownership registration. (AFP)

Somaliland bans operations of privately owned newspaper

New York, June 21, 2018–Authorities in the breakaway state of Somaliland should immediately lift a ban on the operations of Waaberi newspaper, a privately owned daily, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. A Hargeisa regional court issued an order suspending the newspaper on June 19 on allegations of improper registration, according to a statement…

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People wait in a line to cast their votes in the presidential election at a polling station in Hargeisa, Somaliland, on November 13, 2017. Somaliland authorities in late May 2018 detained two journalists and banned two TV stations. (AFP)

Somaliland arrests journalists, bans TV stations

Nairobi, June 1, 2018–Authorities in the breakaway region of Somaliland should desist from detaining and harassing journalists covering a conflict with Puntland and lift an operations ban on two television stations, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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CPJ calls on Somaliland’s president to prioritize press freedom

The Committee to Protect Journalists writes to the President of the Republic of Somaliland Muse Bihi Abdi urging him to free imprisoned journalists and ensure news outlets can operate freely.

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People wave flags as soldiers and other military personnel of Somalia's breakaway territory of Somaliland march past during an Independence day celebration parade in the capital, Hargeisa on May 18, 2016. Somaliland authorities detained journalist Mohamed Aabi Digaale on February 17, 2018. (Mohamed Abdiwahab/AFP)

Somaliland journalist detained without charge

Nairobi, February 21, 2018–Somaliland authorities should immediately release Mohamed Aabi Digaale, the Hargeisa bureau chief for the London-based broadcaster Universal TV, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police arrested Mohamed on February 17 and have been holding him without charge, Guleid Ahmed Jama, chairperson of the advocacy organization Human Rights Center, and Abdullahi Hersi…

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Women march in a procession to celebrate the 25th anniversary of proclaimed independence in the capital Hargeisa, Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia on May 18, 2016. (AP/Barkhad Dahir)

Somaliland journalists sentenced to two years in prison on propaganda charges

Nairobi, January 08, 2017–A Somaliland regional court yesterday sentenced journalists Mohamed Abdilaahi Dabshid and Ahmed Dirie Liltire, to two years of prison on charges of conducting propaganda against the state, bringing Somaliland into contempt and “bringing the flag or national emblem of a foreign state” into contempt, according to a statement by the Human Rights…

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Somaliland journalist detained without charge over false news claim

Police in Gabiley arrested Abdirisak Dayib Ali on December 5, 2017 for allegedly publishing a false report on the news website Gabiley News earlier that month, according to his lawyer, Guleid Ahmed Jama, and Mohamud Abdi Jama, chair of the Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA).

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A general view of Hargeisa in May 2016. A court in the city sentenced a Somaliland journalist to 18 months in prison. (AFP/Mohamed Abdiwahab)

Somaliland court jails journalist for 18 months

Nairobi, October 10, 2017–The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the conviction and sentencing of Somaliland journalist Mohamed Adan Dirir during a one-day trial held without the journalist’s lawyer.

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