Somaliland: Detains Journalist Abdirahman Ege Without Charge

• Journalist Abdirahman Mohamed Ege has been detained without charge in Hargeisa, Somaliland, since October 22.
• His arrest stems from an interview he conducted with Abdiqadir Sharay, a presidential aspirant for Somalia's 2027 elections.
• The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for Ege's immediate and unconditional release, citing a lack of crime and disrespect for press freedom.
• Somaliland authorities have increased crackdowns on media, with multiple journalists arrested over the past year, including Abdiqani Hussein Abokor.
• Somaliland, a self-declared independent state since 1991, has a tense relationship with Somalia and lacks broad international recognition.

The ongoing arrests signal a heightened risk for media professionals operating within Somaliland.

Journalist Abdirahman Mohamed Ege has been held without formal charges in Hargeisa, Somaliland, since October 22. His detention followed an interview he conducted with Abdiqadir Sharay, an individual who intends to run for the presidency of the Federal Government of Somalia in the 2027 national elections. This incident highlights growing concerns regarding media freedoms within the region.

Mr. Ege, who works for Horn Cable TV, was summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Somaliland's capital on the morning of October 22 and subsequently detained upon his arrival. Information regarding his arrest and ongoing questioning about the October 15 interview with Mr. Sharay was provided to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) by the Somaliland Journalists Association and Abdikarim Saed Salah, the deputy chairperson of Horn Cable TV. Mr. Salah has reportedly visited Abdirahman Mohamed Ege multiple times during his confinement. Notably, Abdiqadir Sharay himself was arrested on October 16, reportedly in connection with the same interview, according to various news reports.

The detention of Abdirahman Mohamed Ege occurs against a backdrop of complex political relations between Somaliland and Somalia. Somaliland, which declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, operates as a self-governing territory but lacks widespread international recognition, with the notable exception of Israel, which is slated to recognize it in December 2025. The relationship between Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia remains tense, adding a layer of political sensitivity to reporting on figures associated with the latter.

This particular arrest is not an isolated event but rather indicative of a broader pattern of restrictions on media professionals in Somaliland. Over the past year, authorities in Somaliland have intensified their crackdown on press freedom, leading to numerous arrests of journalists and other media workers. This environment creates significant challenges for independent reporting and the free dissemination of information within the region.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has strongly condemned the detention of Abdirahman Mohamed Ege, asserting that he has committed no offense and demanding his immediate and unconditional release. Muthoki Mumo, CPJ's Africa Program Coordinator, stated that the arrest of a journalist for carrying out their professional duties is a troubling indicator of Somaliland authorities' disregard for press freedom. The organization views this as a serious violation of fundamental media rights.

Further underscoring the deteriorating situation for journalists, another media professional, Abdiqani Hussein Abokor, has also been in detention since August 29, following an interview he conducted with a poet. Efforts by the CPJ to obtain comments from Somaliland's ministry of information and the office of the president via emails sent on October 26 were met with no response, highlighting a lack of transparency and accountability from the authorities regarding these detentions. The ongoing arrests signal a heightened risk for media professionals operating within Somaliland.

This development signals a heightened risk environment for media professionals and any individuals involved in political commentary or reporting within Somaliland. Lawyers advising clients operating in or engaging with Somaliland should be aware of the potential for arbitrary detention without charge, lack of due process, and significant restrictions on press freedom, which could expose personnel to legal and human rights violations. Compliance officers should assess the reputational and operational risks associated with such an environment.

Source: Original reporting via Committee to Protect Journalists