On 9 August 2025, a new suspension order was issued by the Maroodi Jeex Appeals Court. Judge Abdikarin Omar Abdi ordered the “reinstatement of the suspension imposed on the websites hadhwanaagnews.co, hadhwanaagnews.ca, and hadhwanaagtv.com.”  The decision, seen by SJS, also imposed a six-month prison sentence and a fine of 500,000 Somaliland Shillings (approx. $50) on each of the Hadhwanaag News journalists, who are currently outside the country.

The websites’ suspension first imposed in early September 2019, which had been lifted in February this year, has now been reinstated. The court also ordered “all local internet service providers to block” the websites.

Hadhwanaag News is an independent news outlet run by Canada-based Somaliland exiled journalists. For years, its reporters have faced relentless legal threats and persecution merely for exposing corruption allegations against former Central Bank Governor Ali Ibrahim Jama, widely known as Ali Baghdadi.

Ali Baghdadi, who returned from Canada, was appointed as Governor of the Central Bank in April 2018. In 2019, Hadhwanaag News published an article and photos showing the Governor constructing two modern buildings in Hargeisa, which sources alleged were “hotels and commercial spaces” registered “under concealed ownership and guarded by security forces”.

Following this exposé, Ali Baghdadi filed a lawsuit at the Maroodi Jeex Regional Court, which on 5 September 2019 ordered the suspension of the Hadhwanaag News website. Police in Hargeisa began targeting Hadhwanaag News journalists. On 10 September 2019, Editor Abdiqani Abdillahi Ahmed (Asbaro) and reporter Abdirisaq Goud Nur were arrested, followed by the arrest of reporter Abdirahman Sheikh Hassan on 19 September. They were freed on bail on 23 September after two weeks in detention, but later fled the country due to escalating threats, SJS reported at the time.

In April 2021, police arrested freelance journalist, Adan Abdi Idle, over similar reporting on the alleged “corruption of Ali Baghdadi.” He was released after two weeks in custody, as reported by SJS at the time.

Ali Baghdadi was eventually removed from office in a cabinet reshuffle in September 2021.

On 8 February 2025, the Maroodi Jeex Regional Court lifted the suspension on Hadhwanaag News websites. A court document signed by Judge Ilyas Da’ud Ibrahim stated that “the suspension order was lifted since the case has concluded and a decision has been issued.”

However, on 9 August 2025, the Appeals Court issued a new suspension order, reinstating the ban on the websites and reimposing prison sentences and fines on the journalists in absentia.

“This ruling by the Maroodi Jeex Appeals Court is a politically motivated attack on press freedom and independent journalism in Somaliland. By reinstating the suspension of Hadhwanaag News just five months after it was lifted, and sentencing its journalists in absentia, the authorities are sending a chilling message to all critical voices,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin “These actions not only violate Somaliland’s constitution but also undermine fundamental international human rights standards.”

“We urge on the Maroodi Jeex Regional Court to reverse this draconian decision and ensure the safety and freedom of all journalists. Somaliland authorities must ensure that journalists who investigate corruption and officials’ wrongdoings are not persecuted as such action will only diminish the role of the media as public interest watchdog,” Mr. Mumin adds.

News Editor Abdiqani Abdillahi Ahmed (Asbaro) and Abdirisaq Goud Nur were arrested on 10 September 2019, while Abdirahman Sheikh Hassan was arrested on the night of 19 September 2019.

The three journalists were released on a bail meaning that they can be re-arrested anytime, according to the journalists’ lawyer and colleagues who spoke to Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS).

Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) demands Somaliland authorities to withdraw the unfounded and politically motivated charges against Hadhwanaag News journalists in relation to Hadhwanaag News website’s reports about alleged corruption against Somaliland’s Central Bank Governor, Ali Ibrahim Jama (Baghdadi) who filed complaints against these journalists.

“Journalists and media stations should be free to report alleged corruption against the public officials freely and without fear and the Somaliland authorities should see this as constructive approach to correct their mistakes.” Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the Secretary General of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) said.

“We are also worried the order of blockage against Hadhwanaag News website inside Somaliland issued by Hargeisa-based Marodi Jeh Regional Court on 03 September, 2019, following a request from the police asking the internet service providers to block the news site,” adds Mr. Mumin.

Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is concerned by the latest wave of violence against journalists in Somalilandwhere attacks on independent journalists and continued censorship against the free press has worsened. 17 journalists have been detained by Somaliland police since January this year.

On 18 September, a lawyer representing journalist Abdimalik Muse Oldon quit his role as defense lawyer citing intimidations and threats.  Journalist Oldon is waiting his appeal against three and half years jail sentence be heard. This followed the brief arrest of two broadcast journalists in Burao on 16 September as they were filming the city centre where Somaliland president Muse Bihi Abdi was on tour.

On Tuesday 03 September, 2019, Hargeisa-based Marodi Jeh Regional Court ordered the blockage of independent news website Hadhwanaag.ca following a request from the police asking the internet service providers to block the news site. The court document reviewed by Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) mentions articles and series of interviews published by Hadhwanaag News, which allege misuse of public money by the Governor of the Central Bank of Somaliland, Ali Ibrahim Jama (also known as Baghdadi) as the reason of the order of the blockage.

Further, the management of Hawdhwanaag News was also summoned to the Office of Somaliland’s Attorney General for questioning, according to Ahmed Nasir Farah, the website’s Editor-in-Chief.

Separately, in Puntland State, the Minister of Information, Ali Hassan Ahmed (also known as Sabarey) on Tuesday ordered internet companies to block the independent news website Puntlandtimes.com. The order was made during a press conference in Garowe by Minister Sabarey following a news report which the Puntland Times allegedly reported civil servants’ protest at the Puntland Ministry of Information on 26 and 27 August, 2019 over unpaid salaries and Minister Sabarey’s name was mentioned.

Puntland Times Editor, Farah Abdukadir Geylan told Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) that two days before the order of the blockage, he received a phone call from the Minister of Information Ali Sabarey who threatened with arrest.

“It is very worrying that authorities in Somaliland and Puntland are blocking news websites deemed critical to them and threatening journalists.  Such orders are acts of censorship and infringement on the freedom of the press and denial of the public’s right of access to information,” Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) said.

Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) reminds authorities that it is the rights of the journalists to report about issues of public interest, including to investigating wrongdoings of government officials without fear or reprisal.

“We call the telecommunication companies to turn down the orders to block the two news websites of Hadhwanaag News and Puntland Times,” Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) adds.

Maxkamadda Maroodi jeex ee magaalada Hargeysa ayaa amar ku bixisay in xayiro mareegta (website) madaxa banana ee www.hadhwanaag.ca. Qoraalka maxkamada oo uu Ururka Suxufiyiinta SOomaaliyeed ee SJS helay ayaa sababta xayiraadda lagu sheegay qormooyin xiriir ah oo mareegta Hadhwanaag News qortay kuna saabsanaa musuq lacageed oo uu ku kacay Guddoomiyaha Bankiga dhexe ee Somaliland Cali Ibrahim Jaamac oo loo yaqaano Baqdaadi. Waxaa sidoo kale xafiiska Xeer Ilaaliyaha guud ee uu u yeeray Ahmed Nasir Farah oo ah tifaftiraha guud ee mareegta.

Dhanka kale, Wasiirka warfaafinta maamulka Puntland Cali Xasan Axmed oo ku magac dheer Sabarey ayaa ku amray shirkadaha internet-ka ee ka howlgala Maamulka Puntland inay xayiraan mareegta (website-ka) Puntlandtimes.com xili wasiirku kula hadlaayay warfidiyeenka magaalada Garowe. Xayiraada mareegta (website) ayaa timid kadib markii ay faafiyeen cabasho ay sameeyeen shaqaalaha wasaarada warfaafinta Puntland 26 iyo 27 Agoosto oo la xiriirtay mushahar la’aan. Tifaftiraha guud ee Puntlandtimes Farah Abdulkadir Geylan ayaa Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed u sheegay in wasiir Sabarey uu soo wacay uuna u sheegay in website-ka la xayirayo, uguna hanjabay xarig.

Xoghayaha guud ee Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed ee SJS, Cabdalle Axmed Muumin ayaa tallaabo welwel leh ku tilmaamay awaamiirta lagu xayiray labo mareegood oo ay maamulada Somaliland iyo Puntland u arkeen inay qorayaan barnaamijyo aanay maamuladooda jecleysan.

“Awaamiirta nuucan ah waa talaabooyin faafreeb, isla markaana lagu dhibaateynayo xorriyada Saxaafada, iyadoo la hakinayo xaqa shacabka u leeyihiin inay ogaadaan waxa dhacaya,” ayuu yiri Xoghayaha guud ee Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed Cabdalle Axmed Muumin, isagoo xasuusiyay maamulada Somaliland iyo Puntland inay ka fogaadaan wax walba oo dhaawaca xorriyada saxaafada, una ogolaadaan suxufiyinta inay u gutaan shaqadooda si xor ah.

Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed waxa uu sidoo kale ka dalbaday shirkadaha internet-ka inay qaadacaan amarka maamulada ee ay ku doonayaan inay xayiraan mareegahan.