​Somalia: Journalist freed after spending months in prison in Somaliland

HARGAISA, Somaliland- A well-known journalist and a humanitarian activist, Abdi Malik Eldoon was freed from prison after receiving a presidential pardon on Thursday, Garowe Online reports.

Eldoon was jailed in Hargaisa after meeting with Somalia’s new President Mohamed Abdulahi Mohamed Farmajo in Mogadishu following his victory in the presidential election last February.

Upon arrival to Haragisa, Eldoon was arrested by the Police and the court in Somaliland sentenced him to prison for two years on April 2017.However, after he was released from jail, Eldoon spoke to the media and thanked Somaliland President for handing him presidential pardon.

He later highlighted about Somaliland’s quest for international recognition, he said; “It doesn’t mean I am against Somaliland independence if I call Somali people they are my brothers, but I am against the enemies of Somalia.”

Eldoon said his release coincides ahead of the holy month of Ramadan which will give him time to kick start his humanitarian work to help needy families in the region.

Somaliland is a former British protectorate and declared its own independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991, however, it has not been recognized by any country in the world to date.

GAROWEONLINE