Somaliland: 2nd anniversary of closure of Haatuf independent newspaper

In 18^th May 1991, cheers of hopeful crowds took the streets of the main cities of Somaliland to happily welcome declaration of independence. Mass killings and bloody war was fresh; bodies were scattered in streets, homes were destroyed into rubbles and government services were totally nonexistent. Penniless, but optimistic citizens, started lives from scratch. There were no jobs. Those who used to have money and businesses were impoverished by communist regime and catastrophic war.

Despite existence of challenges that seemed unsolvable, Somaliland’s state building and peacebuilding initiatives proved success. With very little outside help, Somaliland transited from anarchy to functioning governance. Local conflict resolution mechanism was employed.

In the 21 years of military rule, independent media was outlawed. Only state owned media was permitted to operate in Somalia. Freedom of expression was suppressed. To avoid repeating history, a constitution protecting human rights was approved in 2001 by the people of Somaliland.

Media freedom is clearly protected in the constitution, and all acts that may subjugate are prohibited. 

Somalis as oral society highly respect speaking freely, and one’s expression of opinion is regarded essential. The 2001 constitution reflects such culture and history.   

Immediately after Siad Barre regime was ousted and Somaliland people jubilantly announced separation, newspapers commenced to work. Journalists started their job in an environment dominated by anarchy and total chaos. Civil war followed suit the collapse of the Somalia government. Inter-clan wars and uncontrolled militias used the barrels of guns.

However, steadfastly Somaliland managed to move from lawlessness to peaceful state.

Media has been there all along and was committed and dedicated to operate in such hard environment.     

Yusuf Gabobe, SNM veteran and well-known journalists, has been in Somaliland media in all of these days. He remembers every bit of it. He worked under all governments.

He was arrested and prosecuted by different governments. But in 7^th April 2014, he faced unpredicted and extraordinary incident. In Monday afternoon, about 16:00 local time, Police forces raided and took over the control of the office of Haatuf newspaper.

In 25^th June 2014, court convicted Yusuf Gabobe, chairman of Haatuf Media Group, and Ahmed Ali Ege, Editor-in-chief of Haatuf newspaper. Gabobe was sentenced to three years of imprisonment and payment of fifty millions shillings whereas Ege was sentenced to four years of imprisonment and fifty millions shillings. The journalists were released on presidential pardon, although they have never seen a document of such.

The court heard only the prosecution. There was no defence at all. The charges were based on stories related to alleged corruption and power abuse.

Haatuf was banned indefinitely. 

Gabobe is one of the founders of independent media in Somaliland. His contributions are enormous. He took part 1980s struggle against Siad Barre tyranny. No one ever imagined that his paper will be closed down.

Self-censorship

In one of Somali stories, clever fox was assigned to distribute camel meet to animal kingdom. She gave all to the lion, the king. When asked why she has done such injustice she responded to what later become well-rehearsed saying “one who witnesses what happened to Ali (hyena) has enough warning”. She refers hyena whom the story says tried to divide the meat justly, but was punished by the lion.  

Editors and owners of media houses in Somaliland are cautious of upsetting the authorities in order to avoid ending up closed as Haatuf.

 Haatuf as symbol of freedom of media

Haatuf is symbolic paper for the level of freedom of expression and freedom of media in Somaliland. Its banning represents dark side of Somaliland’s human rights record. It scary and worrying development.

2^nd anniversary of Haatuf closure

The second anniversary is to be commemorated differently on 7^th April 2016. It will remind the human rights defenders and journalists the work ahead. 

Guleid Ahmed Jama

Guleid is a human rights lawyer who is the head of Human Rights Centre. 

This view is my own and I do not express in representing any entity.