Stakeholders and human rights crusaders are concerned as attacks against the media in Somaliland seem to be on the rise once again.
Arbitrary arrests have become the norm in the recent past.
On August 11, Somaliland authorities arrested two journalists working with Horyaal 24 TV.
The journalists were identified as Ahmed Zaki Ibrahim Mohamud and Abdinasir Abdi Haji Nur.
They had covered the violent protests by opposition supporters in Hargeisa who took to the streets to display their displeasure over news that November’s elections could be delayed.
Initially, the police held Mohamud and Nur at the criminal investigation department officers.
Later, on August 15, police transferred the two journalists to Mandera prison. Authorities then set both of them free two days later.
Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the Secretary-General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), believes Somaliland authorities carry out systematic violations against journalists in the country.
He said that the government attacks the media to silence and keep it from reporting on issues of national interest.