Somaliland’s opposition party, KAAH, has expressed concern over the detention of journalist Abdiqani Hussein Abokor (“Baylood”), calling on the government to uphold press freedom, freedom of speech, and the fundamental rights of citizens.
In a statement issued on September 22, 2026, the party noted that journalist Baylood has been in custody since August 29, 2026, following his response to a summons from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding an interview he conducted with poet Ismail Yusuf Abdi Jiheeye.
The party stated that, as highlighted in its release, no formal charges have yet been brought against the journalist in court, describing the matter as one that requires adherence to proper legal procedures.
KAAH also noted in its statement that the timing of the journalist’s detention is sensitive, given that the President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Cirro), is currently in Washington showcasing Somaliland and its democratic system.
The party pointed out a discrepancy between the message Somaliland projects abroad regarding democracy and freedoms and the situation the press faces domestically. KAAH argued that the Somaliland government cannot speak internationally about democratic freedoms while journalists within the country are imprisoned for carrying out their professional duties.
KAAH called on the government to uphold the justice system, freedom of speech, and the rights of journalists, and to release individuals whom the party claims are being held unlawfully for exercising their fundamental rights.
Finally, the party urged the international community to pay close attention to the discrepancy between the democratic image Somaliland projects abroad and the actual treatment of journalists and citizens within the country.
