GENERAL UPDATE
In December 2025, 14 out of the 15 members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) condemned Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland. Somalia’s UN ambassador, Abu Bakr Dahir Osman, appealed to members of the UN SC to firmly reject Israel’s “act of aggression”, which he said not only threatened to fragment Somalia but also to destabilise the wider Horn of Africa and the Red Sea regions. Although Somalia has not controlled Somaliland since it declared independence in 1991, it has never recognised Somaliland’s secession.
Expression
Civic space in Somaliland faces renewed pressure following the early July 2026 announcement by the Somaliland Police Force that it will begin enforcing newly issued Ministry of Information directives regulating media activities and recording in public spaces. According to police authorities, only media organisations holding a valid licence from the Ministry of Information and journalists possessing accreditation issued by the Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA) will be permitted to record videos, conduct interviews or question members of the public. Police warned that legal action will be taken against any individual or media actor found engaging in such activities without the required authorisation
The announcement signals a significant tightening of state control over journalistic activities and raises concerns about the operating environment for independent media, freelance journalists, citizen journalists and emerging digital media platforms. While authorities framed the measures as part of enforcing existing regulations and protecting vulnerable groups, including children and people deemed incapable of making informed decisions, the requirement for prior licensing and accreditation creates additional barriers for information gathering and public-interest reporting.
The new restrictions raise serious concerns regarding freedom of expression and media freedom. By limiting recording, interviewing and reporting activities to journalists and media organisations approved by the Ministry of Information and accredited by the Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA), the measures may restrict independent news gathering and create barriers for freelance journalists, citizen reporters and emerging media outlets. The threat of legal action against those who fail to comply with the requirements could have a chilling effect on journalists, bloggers and online content creators, encouraging self-censorship and discouraging scrutiny of public affairs. The measures may also undermine public access to information by restricting who can document events, gather testimonies and report from public spaces, potentially reducing the diversity of voices contributing to public debate and limiting the media's ability to promote transparency and accountability.
In separate developments, on 26th March 2026, armed police arrested Abdiqani Abdirahman Mohamed, founder and director of the online outlet Dhulmar Media, in the capital, Las-Anod, and detained him at a police station. Abdiqani’s arrest followed the publication of a video interview with former presidential adviser Abdirisak Mohamed Warsame who accused the president of being ineffective and failing to pay regional security forces. The following day, Abdiqani was taken to a Las-Anod court and remanded for seven days pending further investigation.
On the evening of 22nd February 2026, unidentified individuals raided the offices of Warrame media in Hargesia, Somaliland, and arrested its owner Ahmed-Zaki. He was taken to Marodi-Jeh Regional Court, where he was remanded in custody for seven days pending investigations. Ahmed Zaki believes that his arrest was politically motivated following the publication of his interviews with a former rebel commander and member of parliament who are both critics of President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi’s administration.