HARGEISA (SD) — Somaliland’s Ministry of Information has rejected a planned conference by members of the country’s media community in Borama, saying the gathering was neither approved nor previously communicated to the ministry.
The ministry’s Director, Abdisalam Ilkacase, said officials had informed the Awdal regional authorities and other relevant parties that the conference lacked government authorization and, in the ministry’s assessment, did not comply with Somaliland’s laws.
The decision has triggered criticism from politicians, legal figures and members of the cultural community, who questioned the ministry’s authority to prevent journalists from holding a conference in Borama. Lawyer Guuleed Dafac described the government’s concern over the location as unusual, while former Constitutional Affairs Minister Abdinasir Buuni criticized the position in a social-media post. Poet Yusuf Shaacir also questioned the legal basis for requiring ministry approval for a media gathering.
The controversy comes amid heightened concerns over press freedom in Somaliland following the recent arrests of journalists and media professionals. The Somaliland Journalists Association and other press-freedom groups have called for journalists to be treated according to legal procedures and for freedom of expression to be protected.

The dispute risks becoming a broader test of media independence and the government’s approach to civil society gatherings. While the government can legitimately require conferences to comply with applicable laws and security regulations, critics are likely to view an outright rejection without a clearly stated legal basis as a restriction on press freedom. The choice of Borama also gives the dispute a regional and political dimension, particularly given Awdal’s sensitive political environment. How the government handles the conference could therefore affect both its relationship with Somaliland’s media community and its wider democratic credentials.