HARGEISA (SD) — The Somaliland Human Rights Commission has expressed concern about the recent arrests of poet Ismail Yusuf (Jiheye) and journalists Abdiqani Hussein Abokor (Baylod) and Hasan Saleban Harun (Galaydh), saying some detentions were carried out without the legal procedures required for arrest.

In a statement issued this week, the Commission said it had been monitoring the cases of Jiheye and Baylod, who were arrested on August 29 and September 12, respectively. According to the Commission, their arrests were linked to media-related activities, with Jiheye detained over a poem he recited and Baylod accused of recording and broadcasting it.

The Commission said both men were arrested without warrants and expressed concern that procedures protecting personal liberty and due process had not been followed. The statement comes amid wider scrutiny of press freedom and the treatment of journalists in Somaliland. The Committee to Protect Journalists has also raised concerns about the detention of journalist Abdiqani Hussein Abokor, describing it as part of a broader pattern affecting journalists in Somaliland.

The Commission also said it received information on September 10 about the arrest of journalist Hasan Saleban Harun (Galaydh) by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). After a brief interview with Galaydh, the Commission said he reported that he had not been mistreated but confirmed that he had been arrested without a warrant.

Galaydh was subsequently released, according to the Commission, while Jiheye and Baylod remain in custody. The Commission welcomed Galaydh’s release and stressed that anyone detained is entitled to justice and the protection of their constitutional rights.

At the same time, the Commission urged journalists, media organizations, and the wider public to exercise caution when disseminating statements or information concerning other individuals, emphasizing the importance of respecting people’s rights and reputations. It called on authorities and other relevant parties to follow the law and procedures designed to protect citizens’ rights.

The arrests have also attracted attention from media-rights organizations. The Somali Journalists Syndicate reported on September 9 that two journalists and a poet had been arrested in Somaliland in connection with criticism of President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro.”

The Human Rights Commission’s statement presents a significant test of Somaliland’s commitment to the rule of law and freedom of expression. The Commission is not only defending the rights of those detained but also reminding journalists that responsible reporting and respect for individual rights remain important.

For Somaliland, which has long sought international recognition partly based on its democratic institutions and relative political stability, allegations of arrests without warrants can carry broader diplomatic consequences. At the same time, the Commission’s willingness to publicly question detention procedures demonstrates the existence of an institutional mechanism capable of scrutinizing government actions.

The immediate issue is whether the authorities will provide clear legal grounds for the continued detention of Jiheye and Baylod and ensure that any proceedings are conducted transparently and in accordance with Somaliland’s laws.