Somaliland: the role of the Attorney General in prosecuting journalists

The work of the prosecution office in any country is very important. The office handles enormous tasks in which lives and liberties of human beings are in question. People are prosecuted for crimes their punishments may take away their life, property, liberty and dignity. How the office functions is of a paramount importance to the criminal justice system.

Equality before the law, fair hearing and presumption of innocence are fundamental rights enshrined in Somaliland constitution and in the international human rights instruments such the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

Constitutionally, Somaliland Attorney General, whose functions are set out in the constitution and Acts of Parliament, shall be impartial. The constitution further states that the Office of the Attorney General shall be independent from the executive and legislative branches. Such independence warranted by the constitution is vital for Somaliland criminal justice system.

Unlike many countries, Somaliland solicitor general and the minister of justice are not constituent parts of the Office of the Attorney General. The objective was to distance the prosecution office from the influence of politics and partism.

A salient feature of any good prosecution office is existence of accountability; accountability for the individual prosecutors and the Attorney General himself so that aggravated individuals are able to complain. Accountability helps to challenge arbitrary and abusive decisions and ascertains realization of objectivity and impartiality. Lack of accountability and procedures that give the people opportunity to complain undermine rule of law and justice.  

According to the UN Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors “prosecutors….should be made aware of the ideals and ethical duties of their office, of the constitutional and statutory protections for the rights of the suspect and the victim, and of human rights and fundamental freedoms recognized by national and international law”. These freedoms include respect and protection of freedom of expression.

In this year, Somaliland Office of Attorney General initiated increasing number of criminal cases against journalists. Currently six journalists are facing criminal trials before the courts. Three newspapers, namely Hubsad, Xog Ogaal and Codka Shacabka, were suspended on the decision of the Attorney General. The prosecuted journalists are charged for acts related to their work as journalists.   

On 2011 the Attorney General, Hassan Ahmed Adam, issued a decision temporarily banning registration of new media houses. The Attorney General did not issue another decision rescinding or repealing his previous decision. The Press Law provides the procedure in which media houses are to be registered. The Law does not permit the Attorney General or any other government official to suspend registration of media houses, a constitutionally guaranteed freedom. Journalists who tried to take over already registered media houses because of the difficulty in getting new registration are either prosecuted, such as Hubsad journalists, or their media houses are suspended by the Attorney General. Xog Ogaal and Codka Shacabka newspapers as well as Hubsad newspaper are clear examples.   

The Office of the Attorney General prefers to apply the outdated Somali Penal Code which predates the constitution and the Press Law. The latter two decriminalize media. 

Somaliland Attorney General need to know that freedom of expression is constitutionally protected. The main task of the Office of Attorney General is to fight crime, not to prosecute journalists.

I conclude emphasizing that along with authority comes accountability. In this globalized world where many people have dual citizenship, if justice in one country does not work for victims, it may work in the other country.

The views expressed in this article are mine and do not represent any entity. 

Guleid Ahmed Jama

Human rights lawyer

Hargeisa Somaliland

http://guleidjama.blogspot.com/

Follow on twitter @GuleidJ

Xidhiidhka Somaliland iyo Ethiopia

 

 Somaliland waxaay dhul ahaan la deris tahay sadex dal: Somalia, Ethiopia iyo Djibouti. Somalia waxa ka dhex jira is-diid xoog leh oo ay keentay go’aanka gooni isu taagga oo aanay raali ka ahayn. Djibouti wax u dan ah Somaliladn weligeed ma samayn.

Dhinaca Badda Cas waxa ka soo kulaala dalalka Carbeed oo caan ku ah sida ay uga soo horjeedan Somaliland.

Dalka qudha ee saaxiibtinimo dhow la leh Somaliland waa Ethiopia. Geeska Afrika waa mid ka mid ah gobolada ugu qalalaasaha badan dunida. Waa gobol xasiloonidu ku yar tahay jaarkuna is neceb yihiin; ama dagaalo fool ka fool ah bay kuwada jiraan ama jabhado ayay isku hubeeyaan. Hirdankaas siyasadeed Somaliland waxaay u wajahday si wanaagsan oo ku sallaysan dhawrista nabadda iyo deris wanaagga.

Talaabadii u waynayd Somaliland waxaay qaaday markii ay meel iska dhigtay sheegashadii dhulkii gumaystaha reer Yurub ka siiyay Ethiopia. Waxaay Somaliland la noqotay in Soomaali cid waliba halkeeda ku noolaato badhaadhe iyo nabad ee aan dhiig danbe la daadin.

Aragtidaas dad baa ka soo horjeeda. Kow, dad aaminsan aragtida Soomaali wayn oo ay si dhow u dhibayso ugana cadhaysan siyaasadda Ethiopia ee ku wajahan Somalia. Dadkaasi ma aqoonsana in Somaliland dan gaar ah yeelan karto oo ciday doonto la saaxiibi karto. Waxa weli kooxdan ku qufulan in dib loo raadsho Soomaalida Geeska Afrika oo Xamar looga wada taliyo. Qolada labaad waa dad si dhow ugu xidhan Masar iyo dunida Carabta. Waxaay ka shaqeeyaan sidii Soomaalidu culays ugu noqon lahayd Ethiopia iyaga oo u dhimanaya biyaha lagu cabo Masar.

Labadaas kooxood midna danta Somaliland ma wado ee cid kale ayay u shaqaynayaan.

Waxaa se jira dad iskood ugu kacsan xidhiidhka oo u arka inuu dhinac ka raran yahay oo aanu isku dheelitirnayn. Waa dood qiimo leh oo la isla faaqidi karo. Siyaasadda debeddu wax meel ku dhegsan oo aan la dhaqaajin karin maaha ee wax dan ku sal leh. Markaas dooda ay hayaan waa mid macquul ah.

Nasiib darro, marka dhacdooyin taban ay soo kala dhex maraan labada dal ee deriska ah labada kooxood ee hore waaxay uga faa’iidaystaan inay dadka naxli ku abuuraan oo ay bulshada ku kiciyaan.

In Ethiopia iyo Somaliland saaxiib noqdaan labada dalba dan baa ugu jirta.

Ilaalinta muwaadiniinta iyo madax-banaanida dalku waa waajib ugu horayn saaran dawladaada. Hadii wax ka yimaadaana waxa iska leh eeda dawladaada, hadii ay ka bixin waydo jawaabta diblomaasiyadeed ee ku haboon.

Ugu danbayn, waxaa haboon inaan la isku qaldin fal ama falal qaldan oo ay tahay in sidooda looga fal celiyo, iyo hagar daamada dadyow habaysan oo neceb Somaliland nabad ah. Ethiopia lafteeda waxa la gudboon inay ogsoonaato saamaynta ay yeelan karaan falalka ay sameeyso. Xidhiidhka labada dal waa mid ku salaysan isku danaysi (mutual interest). Sidaas oo ay tahay cid walba oo Somaliland joogtaa ma jecla jiritaanka xidhiidhkaas. Somaliland waa dimoqraadi ay saamayn wayn leedahay aragtida shacabku. Markaas waxa fariidnimadu tahay in Ethiopia aanay ku kicin wax ka horkeeni kari dadka, hadii ay dhacaana inay uga jawaabto si xeel dheer oo indheer garadnimo ku jirto.

Xidhiidhka labada dal waa heer qaran (Addis Ababa iyo Hargeysa). Labada dawladoodna waa waajib saaran inay ka shaqeeyaan wax u dan ah deris wanaagga.

Guleid Ahmed Jama

Hargeisa Somaliland

Qoraalada aan boggan ku qoraa waa aragtidayda gaarka ah oo aanan cidna ku metelin

Qaadka iyo khamriga

Qaadku ma xalaal baa mise xaaraan? Waa lagu murmay. Shiikh aan berri tegi jiray jimcaha masaajid uu iimaam ka yahay oo aan xogaa u jiray ayaa aad u necebaa welina u neceb qaadka. Hada lama deris ahi oo ma gaadho masaajidkiisa. Jimceyaal badan buu qudbadiisa kaga hadlay. Xitaa hadaanu mawduucu ku saabsanayn si uun buu ugu soo dhex dari jiray.

Anigu qaadka ma cuno dadka cunana lama jecli. Qareen baan ahay oo marka sharciga Somaliland laga eego dabcan xaaraan maaha oo xeer baarlamaan ma odhan sidaas. Diin ahaan ka waran? Shiikh ma ahi oo badaas ma geli karo. Haseyeeshee, waxaan ogahay in xalaashiisa iyo xaaraantiisa ay ku xidhan tahay hadba wadadka aad waydiiso. Qaar baa si fiican u daqiiqa oo quud awliyo ku tilmaamay. Qaarna sida shiikhaygaas hore waa la xaaraan.

Dooda qaadka iyo dhibtiisu waa mid dhex taal Soomaalida oo dhan, ha uba sii gaar ahaato dadka Somaliland oo aad u cuna; inta badan ragga qaan gaadhka ah. Qaadku wuxuu leeyahay saamayn siyaasadeed, dhaqaale, bulsho iyo dhaqanba. Sidaasdarteed, ma sahlana mamnuucidiisu. Dabcan dawladu awood ba uma laha in ay ku mamnuucdo wax dad badani cunaan. Waxa ka horaysa in afti la waydiiyo. Hadiise laba mamnuucayo shay sahlan maaha.

Khamrigu sharci ahaan waa ka mamnuuc Somaliland oo waxa jira xeer u gaar ah oo ciqaabaya ciddii cabta, keenta, ka ganacsata ama rarta.

Iyama xun labada? Dad badani su’aashayda waxaay u arkayaan garadarro sababta oo ah uma yaqaaniin qaadka wax xun oo la bar bar dhigo karo khamriga oo diintana ku qoran caafimaad ahaana in badan laga hadlay. Balse hada malaha waxa furantay dood shiikhaygu ku sheegay in qaadku khatar badan yahay. Baraha bulshada dad kaga fal celiyay waxaay u arkeen in taasi dhiirigelin karto cabista khamriga. Anigu se waxaan u arkay inaan shiikhu sidaas ula jeedin, haba kaga dhacdee.

Waxaase malaha haboonayd in loo daayo baarlamaanka shaqada xaarantinimaynta shay si looga fogaado in qof waliba wax ku tilmaamo xaaraan oo aynaan ku dhex dawikhin khilaafka firqooyink iyo manaahijta is-diidan. Soo jeedintu se ma xuma.

Guleid Ahmed Jama

Hargeisa Somaliland

Qoraalada aan boggan ku qoraa waa aragtidayda gaarka ah oo aanan cidna ku metelin

Soomaaliya nabadi uma dhowa inta dhiig yacab ku dhex nool yahay

Dadka gumaadka dadka iyo daadinta dhiigga shacabka ku caan baxay ee dagaalada maatada iyo shacabku ku hoobteen ku lugta lahaa ma jecla in nabad la helo oo bulshadu sal dhigto. Waxaay ka baqayaan in mar uun la is xisaabiyo.

21 sanadood oo Siyaad Barre mindi dhiig leh shacabkiisa ku la dhex jiray, iyo 25 sano oo dabadii Soomaaliya dagaal sokeeye oo wejiyo badan lihi ka socday, hogaamiyayaal badan baa ku lug leh eedo dembiyo dagaal iyo kuwo ka dhan ah aadanaha. Kuwii dhibta geystay waxay ugu dhex nool yihin Soomaaliya si nabad ah iyaga oo qaarkood haya xilal halka kuwo kalena ay u hammuun qabaan oo ku han wayn yihiin in loo doorto xil sare. Ugu yaraan hal qof oo loo haysto inuu sideetanaadkii gumaad ka gaystay Somaliand ayaa shaaciyay inuu u sharaxan yahay doorasho u-keeha la filayo inay ka dhacdo Soomaaliya sanadka 2016.

Waxa taariikhdu caddaysay oo waayuhu ina baray in dembiilayaasha dagaal ay geed dheer iyo mid gaabanba u fuulaan sidii aan nabad loo heleen iyo hadii ba la helo sidii nidaamka abuurmaa aanu u noqdeen mid iyaga ku soo jeesan kara.

Hadii caddaalad la marin waayo dhagar geystayaasha, waxaay u badan tahay in ay soo noq noqoto dhibaadadu sababta oo ah waxa meesha ka baxda cabsidii laga qabi lahaa in la is-xisabiyo.

Mid ka mid ha qalalaadka aanay dhaadin hogaamiyayasha Soomaaliya waa doorka ay kuwa eedaysani ku leeyihiin nabad la’aanta iyo dagaalada lagu riiqday ee weli ka sii socda dalkaas oo loo yaqaan dal fashilmay (failed state). Inuu ka baxo ceebta uu dhex dabaalanayo waxaay qaadanaysaa mudo dheer hadii aanay gar waaqsan in caddaaladu dan u tahay cid walba. Si taasi suurta gal u noqotana waaa in Soomaaliya loo sameeyo maxkamad caalami ah oo qaada dembiyadii dagaal aa dhecay.

Guleid Ahmed Jama

Hargeisa Somaliland 

Waraaq furan oo ku socota Madaxwaynaha Puntland, Cabdiweli Maxamed Cali

Mudane Madaxweyne,

Waxaan ahay muwaadin reer Somaliland ah oo degan Hargeysa. Waxaan ogahay in dadka degan dhulka aad u talisaa ay yihiin dad wanaagsan oo ku fiican dhaqanka iyo dadnimada. Waxaan ogahay in dhibaato xoogani ka soo gaadhay maamulkii macangaga ahaa ee uu horkacayay keligii taliye Maxamed Siyaad Barre. Waxaan ogahay inuu layn ba’an ka gaystay deegaanada Puntland.

Waxaan sidoo kale ogahay inaad tahay nin aqoon yahan ah oo ku noolaa dal kala danbayta sharciga iyo ixtiraamta xuquuqal insaanku ku wayn yahay. Sidaasdarteed, waxaan kaa rajaynayaa inaad u niyad san tahay caddaaladda iyo nolosha aadanaha.

Mudane madaxwayne, waxaan ka ogaaday war-baahinta Soomaalida inuu joogo Puntland General Moorgan oo sida aad ogtahay loo haysto eedo. Eedda loo haystaa waa mid culus oo ku aroorta dembiyo dagaal iyo dembiyo ka dhan ah aadantinimada oo uu galay intii uu ka talinay Somaliland.

Sidaasdareed, si uu u wajaho caddaalad oo loo soo taago maxkamad waxaan kaa codsanayaa inaad u soo gacan gelisid Moorgan dawladda Somaliland. Hadii aad sidaas samaysid waxaay wax wayn ka tari doontaa nabadda Geeska Afrika iyo isku soo dhowaanshaha shacabka walaalaha ah ee Puntland iyo Somaliland. Waxaay farriin u diri doontaa dhamaan dagaal oogayaasha welli ku hawlan sidii ay u daadin lahaayeen dhiig Soomaaliyeed.

Mahadsanid

Guleid Ahmed Jama

Hargeisa, Somaliland

Talaabada Camuud qaaday waxaay calaamad u tahay halka loo socdo

Sawirka: calaamadda Jaamacadda Camuud

Jaamacadda u da’da wayn Somaliland ee Camuud ayaa iska hor taagtay Prof. Ahmed Ismail Samatar inuu hees ka qaado sida caadada u ahayd mar walba oo uu soo gebo-gebeeyo khudbadaha is-daba joogga ah ee uu ka jeediyo jaamacadaha iyo goobaha kale.

Dadka qaar waxaay u arkeen talaabo haboon oo lagu ilaalinayo wax ula muuqda qiyam hagaagsan oo diini ah halka ay dad kale u arkaan inay tahay fal ceeb ku ah jaamacadda oo hoos isu celisay, iskana hoosaysiisay meeqaamkii laga filayay.

Talaabada Camuud waa mid ay ku canbaaraysan tahay lagana filayo inay dhinac iskaga leexiso oo ay raaligelin bixiso si ay u daba qabatayso sumcadeeda, cidii ka danbaysayna ay ka erido jaamacadda

Balse falkan wuxuu caddayn u yahay wadada ay bulshada Somaliland ay qaaday iyo itijaaha cusub ee isa soo tarayay shan iyo labaatankii sanadood ee u danbeeyey. In Boorama oo muusiga casriga ah ee Soomalidu ku dhashay ay jaamacad ah halkii la bidayay aqoonta iyo dul qaadku ay diido in hees laga qaado waa ifa-faale walaac leh oo ina tusaya in eelkii la beeray uu qarxay.

Maaha arin ku kooban hees iyo muusig ee waa ka qoto dheer yahay.

Cidda gabtay dadka ee u horseeday in umaddu qaado marinkan waxa kow ka ah aqoon yahankeeda. Weli waa macquul in la soo dabo-qabateeyo bulshada oo la abuuro fagaare si dul qaad leh oo si nabad qabta loogu noolaan karo inaga oo ah Muslimiin Afrikaan ah oo ilaashanayna diinteenta sida aynu u fahamnay Afrikaan ahaan tan iyo markay ina soo gaadhay waagii Nebi Muxamed (CSW) uu joogay Medina iyo kadib.

Guleid Ahmed Jama

Qoraalada aan boggan ku qoraa waa aragtidayda gaarka ah oo aanan cidna ku metelin