A student walks out of a graduation ceremony to visit his father in Mandheere prison

Mohamed Sultan Ahmed Addogude is among 825 students who graduated on Saturday from the New generation university in Hargeisa. His happiness was interrupted due to the detention of his father; Sultan Ahmed Osman Addo-gude, a traditional elder who was arrested by the Somaliland police on unspecified charges.

The Son decided to walk out of the graduation ceremony and travel the 90 kilometers to visit his father who is imprisoned in Mandheere prison. He said while still wearing the graduation gown that he felt heartbroken and did not enjoy his graduation without his father’s presence.

“Today is my graduation day. You can see I’m still dressed in my graduation gown. I have traveled to Mandheera prison to share the graduation happiness with my father who is imprisoned there. My father was unjustly arrested at a time he was heading back home.” he said

Mohamed believes the arrest of his father is unconstitutional and demands his immediate release. Beside him was his distressed mother who says she is beside herself for the involuntary absence of her husband from their son’s special day.

Two weeks prior , the Somaliland police arrested Sultan Ahmed Osman Addo Gude in Hargeisa. He is an outspoken critic of the government and has recently criticized president Bihi and accused him of killing “Peaceful” demonstrators.