Journalist Abdimalik Muse Oldon released from prison after serving two-year term

Journalist Abdimalik Muse Oldon was released from Hargeisa’s central prison on Thursday after nearly two years in custody.

Somaliland police arrested Abdi Malik in August 2021. 

The freelance journalist was arrested outside his home in Burao for allegedly spreading rumours about the Hargeisa Cultural Center and Abaarso school. 

Mr. Oldon was also charged for unearthing the story of a female Nigerian who is in Hargeisa as the president of Barwaaqo University and expressed his concern over her presence in the country for spreading christianty in the country, an allegation that was later on denied by the University management.

This journalist has been arrested several times on various cases including his ideology of pan-somalism, the Abaarso School accusations, and being critical to the current government of Somaliland.

The Marodi-Jeh regional court in Hargeisa announced in February 2022 that Abdimalik Muse Oldon had been acquitted of all charges; however, the prosecutors filed an appeal against the court’s decision, leading to Abdimalik to remain in prison until his release on Thursday.

Oldon was previously jailed in 2019 by Somaliland authorities for “spreading anti-national propaganda” and “disseminating false news.”

However, after a stint in prison, he was pardoned by the Somaliland President.