On March 28, 2026, Somaliland police in the eastern town of Erigavo detained journalist Abdilatif Saed Ahmed, also known as Abdilatif Asayr, over reporting that the town’s offices of the ministry of water had closed, the journalist told CPJ, after his release, and another Somaliland journalist, Warsame Kaafi, reported on Facebook.
Four police officers, accompanied by a water ministry official, arrested Abdilatif while he was walking in the town center and took him to Erigavo Central Police Station for questioning about the report, the journalist said.
Abdilatif said an officer at the station accused him of spreading false information about the ministry of water's offices in Erigavo, assaulting a female staff member at the offices, and stealing two cell phones. He denied the allegations.
On April 1, Abdilatif appeared before Sanaag Regional Court and was released on bail on the condition that he appear before the court whenever required.
Abdilatif told CPJ that he worked on the report with journalists Mohamed Yusuf Ali, also known as Mohamed Ilkacase — on whose Facebook page the video report was published — and Mubaarik Mohamed Aadan, also known as Mubaarik Rays.
On May 10, Mohamed was arrested and detained for eight hours, he told CPJ, after his release.
On June 10, the three journalists were taken into detention, pending judgment.
On June 11, 2026, Sanaag regional court in Erigavo convicted Abdilatif and Mohamed of publishing false news under Article 287 of the Penal Code. They were both fined 1 million Somaliland shillings (US$100), or one year in prison in default of payment. The fines were paid, securing their release. Mubaarik was acquitted.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized internationally, except by Israel in December 2025. Since 2025, the breakaway state has seen an uptick in short-term detentions of journalists.
Abilatif was also detained for three nights from June 2, 2025, and for two nights from March 19, 2025, over his reporting on clan representation in government.
CPJ did not receive responses to July 2026 emails requesting comment from Somaliland’s ministry of information and the office of the president.