Marodi Jeh regional court on Wednesday sentenced humanitarian activist Abdimalik Muse Oldon to six months imprisonment and fined to pay three million Somaliland shillings.
The regional court did not disclose the allegations levelled against Mr. Oldon in which the court convicted him. He rejected to have a lawyer who assists him in the court, and decided to defend himself without having a lawyer.
Oldon was apprehended on the 4th of April, 2025, while in the port city of Berbera after he returned a vacation from the East of the country. He told that he wanted to be arrested by Somaliland security forces and escaped. His family convinced him to return back and assured that he will not be arrested.
It is believed that Oldon was detained after he posted a comment on Aljazeera which reported that Somaliland accepted to host Palestinians in Gaza in which the U.S. and Israel want to be relocated but Somaliland gov’t has strongly repudiated.
He wrote on his Facebook account that he hails from Somalia. He said that the minister does not represent him. He further stated in the comment that he represents a mercenary gov’t.
He went on to say in the comment that the Palestinians are our brothers. The people from Gaza will remain in their land in patience and resilience. Oldon was detained on accusations of defamations against Abaarso School and Hargeisa Cultural Center.
