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Somaliland commits to protecting free speech and journalists in new democratic initiative
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    Monday January 6, 2025


    Somaliland's Minister of Information, Ahmed Yasin Sheikh Ali Ayanle, addressing recent commitments to enhance protections for freedom of expression during a press briefing in Hargeisa.

    Mogadishu (HOL) — Somaliland has pledged to strengthen its commitment to free speech, vowing to protect journalists and citizens from detention over opinions or facts deemed unfavourable by the government.

    President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, fulfilling a key campaign promise, reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to democratic principles in a recent statement to civil society groups and the media. Minister of Information Ahmed Yasin Sheikh Ali Ayanle echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that freedom of expression is a cornerstone of Somaliland’s governance.

    “No one will be imprisoned for their opinions, provided they do not violate the law. Similarly, even if controversial, those reporting facts should not face legal consequences. Our ambition is to establish a society where the rule of law prevails, and fundamental freedoms are safeguarded,” Ayanle stated during a press briefing.

    Somaliland has earned praise from Freedom House, a U.S.-based organization that ranks nations on civil liberties and political rights. Consistently outshining regional counterparts like Kenya, Somaliland often tops the charts in East Africa for its commitment to democratic ideals.

    However, progress has been undermined by a troubling pattern of arrests targeting journalists and critics. Analysts argue that often politically motivated actions overshadow Somaliland’s otherwise commendable human rights record.

    President Irro and his Waddani party made protecting civil liberties a centrepiece of their electoral campaign. Observers now await tangible reforms to translate these pledges into actionable policies that solidify Somaliland’s reputation as a beacon of democracy in the Horn of Africa.

     





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