One year ago today, I regained my freedom after spending 177 days in detention in Somaliland—the so-called beacon of peace and democracy. It was an unjust ordeal, one that ended only through the sustained and combined efforts of the governments of Australia and the United Kingdom, FAO Somalia, other UN agencies, and countless Somalis both within and outside the country. I remain profoundly grateful for their solidarity and support.
My arrest, trial before a military court (despite being a civilian), and subsequent imprisonment were not based on any wrongdoing. Rather, they were the result of a politically motivated, clan-based vendetta—a retaliatory act following the Somaliland administration’s humiliation at the Battle of Gooje Cadde on August 25, 2023. In that confrontation, the local civilian forces disarmed and expelled Somaliland troops, whose presence had long fuelled local resentment.
Prior to that historic day, Las Anood city endured over six months of relentless, indiscriminate shelling by Somaliland forces, leading to widespread displacement and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.
I had no role in that conflict, nor did I commit any crime. My only ‘offence’ was my clan affiliation. I share a sub-clan with the people of Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn, who have long resisted Somaliland’s attempts to forcibly assert control as part of its unilateral secession from Somalia.
The recent prisoner swap between Puntland and Somaliland, allowing some inmates from Hargeisa and Garowe prisons to reunite with their families, is a welcome and hopeful step toward justice and reconciliation. But many others remain unjustly incarcerated across Somalia, held without due process, legal recourse, or even formal charges. Their suffering must not be forgotten. Their stories deserve to be told.
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By Abdirahman Kulmiye | X: @ajkulmiye
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