HARGEISA, Somaliland (Horn post) The Somaliland Police Force has issued a strongly worded public statement defending the legal independence of the country’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), insisting that the agency has full constitutional authority to summon, question and investigate any citizen accused of violating the law or engaging in actions that threaten public security.
The statement comes amid growing controversy in Somaliland following allegations that government ministers have been using security institutions to intimidate citizens who criticize senior officials on social media, particularly criticism directed at the Minister of the Presidency Khadar Hussein Abdi.
In its official press release, the police command stressed that both the CID and the wider Somaliland police institution operate independently and must remain free from political influence and social rivalries.
“The Criminal Investigation Department and the Somaliland Police Force as a whole are independent from politics and social competition. Their constitutional duty and legal mandate are to protect national security, preserve public order and stability, safeguard citizens’ lives, property and dignity regardless of their status, and enforce the law against anyone threatening these interests,” the statement said.
Police authorities further emphasized that the CID has full legal authority to directly summon, question and, where necessary, refer individuals to the courts if they are suspected of violating laws or making statements that undermine national security.
“The Somaliland Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has the legal right to summon, question, and if necessary, refer to competent courts, any person accused of violating the law or engaging in acts or statements that disrupt public security, without being forced to act secretly or through indirect methods,” the statement continued.
In one of the most politically sensitive parts of the statement, police leadership rejected claims that government officials can directly instruct CID officers to investigate citizens.
“There cannot be any minister or government official who can directly request CID to summon citizens for investigation. Any official with a complaint must follow the country’s legal procedures,” the police statement added.
The statement also accused certain individuals of spreading false information online by claiming that CID had summoned them when, according to police, no official contact occurred.
Authorities specifically referred to a recent social media post published by citizen Cabdiraxmaan Seed, who publicly claimed he had received threatening phone calls allegedly from CID officials after criticizing the Minister of the Presidency Khadar Hussein over unfulfilled political promises.
According to Seed’s public account, he received multiple calls from unknown numbers while attending evening prayers at a mosque. After answering one of the calls, the individual allegedly identified himself as CID Commander Faysal Xiis.
Seed said the caller initially ordered him to report to CID headquarters the following morning.
“Tomorrow at 9 a.m., you must come to CID headquarters,” Seed said the officer told him during the phone call.
However, according to Seed, the same official called him again minutes later and warned him not to disclose the conversation publicly.
“Do not tell anyone that I have summoned you,” Seed quoted the caller as saying.
Seed said he later met the officer in person, where the conversation allegedly shifted toward his recent Facebook posts criticizing the Minister of the Presidency Khadar Hussein Abdi over campaign promises made to residents of Kaamtuug town.
“What do you have against the Minister of the Presidency?” Seed said the officer asked him after entering the vehicle.
Seed said he responded by explaining that he had merely reminded the minister about promises made during the election campaign to build a boarding school in his hometown.
According to his account, the officer then warned him directly to stop criticizing the minister.
“Watch your mouth and stop talking about that man,” Seed quoted the officer as saying.
The controversy escalated further after prominent Somaliland lawyer and free speech advocate Guuleed Dafac accused government officials of using police institutions as tools of intimidation against ordinary citizens exercising their constitutional right to free expression.
“I have learned that several individuals have been summoned to police stations, especially CID, on different occasions after making comments on social media, particularly comments concerning the Minister of the Presidency. This is intimidation,” Dafac said.
He urged citizens contacted by CID because of online speech to immediately report the matter so legal assistance can be provided.
“Anyone summoned by CID because of statements they made or wrote, please inform me when you are called. We will work together to ensure you have legal representation and that the public becomes aware of this intimidation. Power belongs to the people,” he said.
Dafac also called on President of Somaliland to restrain ministers accused of misusing government authority.
“The President must control his ministers and ensure that no one uses state authority outside the powers constitutionally entrusted to him,” Dafac added.
Minister of the Presidency Khadar Hussein Abdi is British citizen that came from UK where that the publicly practice free speech and must fellow.
Somaliland has long been regarded as one of the more politically open territories in the Horn of Africa, where citizens have historically exercised considerable freedom to criticize government officials publicly.
However, observers say recent months have seen a growing number of arrests and legal actions targeting individuals accused of criticizing the government through Facebook and other social media platforms.
The latest police statement has generated widespread public debate, with many citizens now closely watching whether government ministers will respect the CID’s declared institutional independence and whether freedom of expression protections in Somaliland remain fully intact.
Prepared by:
Horn post staff
Hargeisa, Somaliland
