By Ahmedsadik Yusuf |
Contributor
HARGEISA — Somaliland authorities have detained independent journalist Abdiqani Hussein Abokor, widely known as Weriye Baylood, following an interview he conducted with poet Ismail Yusuf Abdi Jiheeye concerning an alleged property dispute involving the family of Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro.
Baylood, chairman of Heegan Media TV, was summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Hargeisa on Saturday before being transferred to Hargeisa Central Prison. According to Baylood’s family, a court ordered an extension of his remand custody.
The case stems from an interview in which Jiheeye alleged that two plots of land belonging to him had been taken by the president’s family because they were located near President Irro’s residence. The poet also expressed his grievances through poetry, accusing the family of what he described as injustice and unfair treatment.
Jiheeye was detained the following day and taken to the CID headquarters in Hargeisa, according to the information provided.
Somali Human Rights Organizations and Journalists in Exile Express Concern
Somali human rights organizations and journalists in exile have raised concerns over Baylood’s detention, calling for respect for freedom of expression, due process, and the rights of independent media professionals.
The concerns come amid reports that Baylood faces preliminary charges under Articles 215 and 220 of Somaliland’s Penal Code in connection with his interview with Jiheeye.
Questions have also been raised about the legal procedures surrounding the journalist’s detention. According to accounts cited in the report, both Baylood and Jiheeye appeared before a court on Saturday, but prosecutors reportedly did not present the charges against them during the hearing. The court subsequently ordered seven days of remand custody, and both men were transferred to Hargeisa Central Prison.
Human rights advocates have called on the relevant security and judicial authorities to ensure that the case is handled fairly and transparently and that the rights of both men are respected throughout the legal process.
Human Rights Association Condemns the Arrests
A human rights association in Somalia has condemned the detention of Baylood and Jiheeye, describing the arrests as violations of freedom of expression and urging the authorities to respect fundamental rights.
Other civil society organizations have also expressed concern, calling for the protection of independent journalism and the right of individuals to express their views without fear of arbitrary detention.
The allegations concerning the property dispute have not been independently verified. The claims involving the president’s family remain allegations made by the poet.
Lawmaker Says Baylood Is the 46th Journalist Detained
Somaliland lawmaker Mohamed Hussein Jama, popularly known as Mohamed Hussein Rambo, said Baylood had become the 46th journalist detained by the authorities since President Irro took office in December 2024.
Rambo, a veteran journalist and founder and former editor of the Geeska Afrika newspaper, was elected to the Somaliland House of Representatives in 2021.
“I am saddened that Journalist Baylood has become the 46th journalist detained by the government,” Rambo said.
He described the detention as part of what he characterized as an intensifying crackdown on freedom of expression and journalists’ professional activities under the current administration.
The figure cited by Rambo has not been independently verified in the information available for this report.
Growing Concerns Over Press Freedom
Baylood’s detention adds to a series of reported arrests and detentions involving journalists in Somaliland in recent years.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has documented cases involving the detention of media workers in Somaliland, while Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has also raised concerns about the treatment of journalists and restrictions on independent reporting.
In September 2025, reports indicated that at least 15 journalists had been arrested in Somaliland over a three-month period. The reported cases included four journalists detained in Erigavo, four in Hargeisa, and two in Berbera while carrying out journalistic activities.
These incidents have drawn criticism from press-freedom advocates, who have called for an end to arbitrary detention, greater transparency in criminal investigations involving journalists, and stronger protections for independent media.
The latest case has renewed concerns about the use of criminal proceedings in matters involving interviews, poetry, and public criticism of political figures.
Human rights advocates maintain that journalists should be able to report on matters of public interest without intimidation or retaliation. They have also emphasized the importance of due process and the need for authorities to ensure that any criminal allegations are addressed through fair and transparent judicial proceedings.
The detailed response of Somaliland authorities to the allegations surrounding Baylood’s detention was not included in the information available for this report.
