Somaliland Lawmaker Criticizes National Intelligence Agency Over Journalist Arrests

In a press conference convened today, Barkhad Jama Batun, a lawmaker in Somaliland, voiced concern regarding the recent detentions of journalists in the country. Allocating responsibility to the National Intelligence Agency, Barkhad Batun urged the government to uphold constitutional principles and safeguard the freedom of the press.

Batun disclosed that journalists in Hargeisa had been recently apprehended by the National Intelligence Agency, with reports of physical assaults and one journalist being transferred to a military court. Notably, the government has since reconsidered this decision, opting to route journalist cases exclusively through civilian courts, as announced by the Ministry of Information.

Providing clarity on the distinct roles of government institutions, Batun underscored the National Intelligence Agency’s vital function in intelligence gathering and protecting national interests but emphasized that it lacks the authority to make arrests.

Highlighting the integral role of media in Somaliland, Batun reminded the government of the constitutional provision for media freedom and urged officials to refrain from illegal arrests of journalists, promoting a climate of respect for journalistic integrity.