Somaliland’s Human Rights Center condemns “Police brutality” and demands an investigation over recent protests

The Human rights center of Somaliland has criticized the killing of unarmed civilians during the 11th August protests by the police. The center now demands an independent investigation and accountability concerning the matter.

Somaliland’s human rights center noted the police took “unnecessary actions” during the Thursday’s protests, causing the death of five people and multiple injuries across the country, according to the center’s documentation.

The statement reads, more people were arrested including journalists. It strongly condemned all police brutality actions against demonstrators, including use of illegal force and live ammunition.

It also underlined that Peaceful demonstrations are a tenet of the rights enshrined in Somaliland’s constitution and urged political stakeholders to follow national and international standards of human rights, respecting the rights of others to demonstrate peacefully.

The opposition parties announced on Sunday they temporarily suspended their protests in order to hold a state funeral for those who died in Thursday’s protests and after the funeral the protests will continue until the presidential election is held on 13 November 2022.