CIVICUS discusses media freedom challenges in Somaliland with a representative of a local civil society organisation that defends journalists’ rights and supports media professionalism. The interviewee asked to remain anonymous for security reasons.

Over the past year, Somaliland authorities have arrested at least 20 journalists and shut down multiple private media outlets, with blatant disregard for constitutional rights and proper legal procedures. Recent cases include Universal TV’s licence being revoked in February and journalist Ahmed Mohamud Dool being detained without charges over a Facebook post in August. Vague and unsubstantiated accusations are used to silence independent coverage, drawing strong criticism from local journalists’ associations.

What’s the situation for journalists in Somaliland?

While Somaliland is safer for journalists than many neighbouring countries in the Horn of Africa, press freedom is far from guaranteed. Although journalists may not face life-threatening risks, they can still be detained because of their work.

Arrests are becoming more frequent and often take place without trial. By mid-2025, we had recorded over 10 detentions, a higher number than during the same period last year. This creates a climate of uncertainty for our profession.

One of the main reasons is that Somaliland’s media law has become outdated. Since it dates back to 2004, before the rise of social media and online news, and has never been reformed, journalists are prosecuted under the Penal Code instead. This criminalises journalistic work and means even a minor reporting error can be treated as a criminal offence.

How are arrests affecting journalists and public access to information?

Detentions have a chilling effect. Journalists become more cautious and often avoid sensitive topics to protect themselves. In some cases, families have been pressured to sign undertakings that their relative will never cover particular issues again. This has led some experienced journalists to leave Somaliland.

There are also subtler forms of control. Some outlets have informal understandings with government institutions or major companies, which can discourage them from publishing critical coverage. As a result, important investigations into environmental issues, governance and public services are sometimes dropped before they reach the public.

This creates an information gap for people in Somaliland. If journalists censor themselves or aren’t allowed to speak about some topics, public trust in the media and its role as a reliable source of information are eroded. When the media is constrained, disinformation and rumours also spread more easily.

What’s the government done to address these concerns?

When the current government was part of the opposition, they promised to review the media law and safeguard the press. After they won last year’s election, the media was optimistic. Progress has been made in some respects. The Ministry of Information has shown openness and is currently working closely with us to finalise an updated version of the media law.

We helped draft this new version through consultations with journalists, civil society and government officials. Among the changes, we called for an independent media council to handle complaints and proposed replacing most arrests with fines. The bill now awaits a parliamentary vote and, if approved, it could curb arbitrary detentions and modernise Somaliland’s media regulations.

What support is needed for independent journalism?

The first urgent need is legal aid. We’ve managed to provide lawyers for detained journalists and small grants for their families, but this support depends on funding that comes from the European Union and ends this year. Without new, sustainable funding, journalists facing arrest will have little protection.

We can’t do it without public support. To secure support, we need to shift the way society views journalism. Many still see it as a last option for those without a strong education, partly because some media outlets don’t require formal qualifications. This lowers professional standards and overlooks the important role journalists play in holding those in power to account. We are working to change this perception and show people that protecting Somaliland’s independent media, which has supported democracy for over 30 years, is in everyone’s interest.

Additionally, journalists need better training to improve the quality of their work. Long-term education opportunities that focus on investigative reporting in areas such as climate change, disaster risks and environmental issues – topics that don’t get enough attention, particularly outside big cities – can help fill some of the gaps.

Finally, we must build trust between journalists and the police. We have started regular talks with law enforcement to improve our mutual understanding. Combined with the passing of the new media law, these steps could create a more enabling environment for the press.