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Somaliland sentences activist Coldoon to six months in prison, imposes fine
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    Wednesday May 7, 2025


    FILE - Outspoken activist and journalist Abdimaliq Muse Coldoon 

    Hargeisa (HOL) —  A court in Somaliland has sentenced prominent activist and journalist Abdimaliq Muse Coldoon to six months in prison and fined him 3 million Somaliland shillings, raising fresh concerns over freedom of expression in the self-declared republic.

    The Maroodi-Jeex Regional Court delivered the ruling on Wednesday but did not disclose the charges. According to court officials, Coldoon waived his right to legal representation and chose to represent himself in court.

    Coldoon was arrested on April 4 in Berbera after returning from self-imposed exile in eastern Somaliland. He had previously fled the region, citing fears of politically motivated arrest, but returned following assurances from relatives that he would not be detained. Authorities took him into custody shortly after his return.

    Although the court has not confirmed the charges, local media and civil rights observers believe Coldoon’s arrest is linked to a social media post criticizing Somaliland’s alleged willingness to host displaced Palestinians from Gaza. The allegation stemmed from a report by Al Jazeera, which Somaliland officials have denied.

    “I am from Somalia, and that minister does not represent us. He represents a mercenary government. The Palestinian people are our brothers. The people of Gaza will remain resilient on their land with patience and strength,” Coldoon wrote in the post widely cited as a trigger for his arrest.

    The arrest drew condemnation from members of the opposition Waddani party and rights advocates, who argue Coldoon’s detention violates constitutional protections on free expression. “Whether supporting or opposing the government, free expression must be respected,” said former Waddani justice secretary Yoonis Ahmed Yoonis, who also defended Coldoon during a 2022 arrest. “His arrest is unlawful, and we call for his immediate release.”

    His latest arrest is not Coldoon’s first clash with Somaliland authorities. In 2017, he was sentenced to two years in prison for “anti-national activities” after publicly supporting Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo—a move seen as politically provocative by Somaliland officials. That same year, Coldoon was honoured in London with the International Somali Award for Outstanding Community Contribution.

    In 2021, Coldoon was arrested again, this time over alleged defamation involving the Abaarso School and the Hargeisa Cultural Center. Though acquitted by a regional court in early 2022, he remained in custody for nearly two years after prosecutors appealed the decision.

     





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