Hargeisa, Somaliland – Authorities in Somaliland have detained at least 47 people, including 12 foreign nationals, following the disruption of a planned event in Hargeisa reportedly connected to Somalia’s ongoing constitutional review process.
According to local media reports, the gathering was allegedly organized by Consilient Research, a firm that has previously conducted social and political studies in the region. The event was expected to bring together participants from different sectors to discuss issues related to governance and constitutional reform in Somalia—a subject that remains politically sensitive in Somaliland, which claims independence from Mogadishu.
Witnesses said security forces arrived at the venue shortly before the meeting was scheduled to begin, ordering everyone present to leave before detaining several participants for questioning. The operation, they said, was carried out quietly but with visible coordination between police and intelligence units.
While the motive behind the arrests has not been officially clarified, reports suggest that public concern and online backlash against the event played a role in prompting the authorities to intervene. Many residents reportedly viewed the meeting as an attempt to undermine Somaliland’s political stance and sovereignty.
As of Tuesday, the Somaliland government had not released an official statement on the detentions or clarified whether the suspects will face formal charges. The detainees, including the foreign participants, are believed to be in police custody pending further investigation.
The incident has stirred debate in Hargeisa, with some calling for transparency about the reasons behind the arrests and others backing the government’s action as necessary to protect national interests.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has long resisted participation in political or legal processes linked to the Federal Government in Mogadishu. The latest arrests underscore how deeply constitutional and identity issues continue to shape the region’s fragile political landscape.