Somaliland’s opposition party KAAH has expressed concern over the detention of journalist Abdiqani Hussein Abokor, known as Baylood, calling on the Somaliland government to protect press freedom, freedom of speech and citizens’ basic rights.
In a statement issued on September 22, 2026, the party said journalist Baylood has been detained since August 29, 2026, after he responded to a summons from the CID’s Criminal Investigation Department.
The summons was linked to an interview the journalist had conducted with poet Ismail Yusuf Abdi, known as Jiheeye.
KAAH said that, as noted in its statement, no case has yet been formally brought before a court against the journalist, and it called on the government to handle the case through proper legal procedures.
Abdiqani Baylood was detained on August 29, after responding to a summons from the CID, according to his lawyer and the Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA).
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on September 7 that Baylood was being held without formal charges having been filed against him in court.
According to CPJ, the journalist published on August 27 a video interview he conducted with poet Jiheeye, in which the poet, during the interview, recited a poem addressing issues related to land and President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro).
CPJ also said Baylood briefly appeared before the Maroodi-Jeex Regional Court on the day he was detained, where he was ordered held in custody for seven days while the investigation continued.
His lawyer said the court was later not reconvened at the scheduled time.
The Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA) had also previously spoken about Baylood’s detention, expressing concern over how the journalist’s detention was handled and the situation he is in.
CPJ, on September 7, called on the Somaliland administration to release the journalist, saying he had been held in custody for a period without formal charges being filed against him in court.
Abdiqani Baylood’s case has revived debate over the state of press freedom and how journalists operating in Somaliland are treated.
Those advocating for press freedom insist that journalists be allowed to carry out their duties, while on the other hand, security and justice institutions have the authority to investigate allegations they consider relevant under the law.
The important principle is that anyone detained should be told the reason for their detention, have charges brought against them through a lawful process, and be brought before a court following proper legal procedures.
KAAH Calls on the International Community to Pay Special Attention to the Case Finally, KAAH called on the international community to pay particular attention to the situation, which the party described as a gap between the democratic image Somaliland presents abroad and how journalists and citizens are treated domestically.
The party reiterated its call for press freedom, freedom of speech and citizens’ rights to be protected, and for the cases of detained individuals to go through the justice system.
Abdiqani Baylood’s case remains a matter being closely followed, with the KAAH party, journalist associations and human rights organizations calling for the journalist’s rights and proper legal procedures to be upheld.
