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Somaliland's President, Dahir Rayale Kahin, has so far remained unmoved by domestic calls for an independent investigation of human rights violations allegedly committed by his security forces in the aftermath of the April 14 elections. Worse, the police has kept up its harassment of the inhabitants of the capital Hargeisa, particularly during night hours. Clearly, a large number of people who had given Mr. Rayale the benefit of the doubt by voting for him despite his former career as an NSS officer, are now beginning to worry about the future of their human rights under the present government. To be sure though, the actions for which Mr. Rayale’s government has been attracting criticism should in no way be interpreted as to suggest Somaliland being on the brink of a human rights disaster. No, this country is far from it. What has been bothering most people, however, is a persistent trend showing this President’s disdain for due process of the law.
While Somaliland's citizens are willing to take their disputes to court for settlement, the government has shown a tendency to take actions outside the judicial process whenever it wants to, especially in political matters. The imprisonment without trial of SNM veterans, and the summary trial of Haatuf Borama correspondent Mohamed Omer last month, are two good practical examples of this inclination.
Some might argue that given Somaliland’s weak judicial system vis-à-vis the executive branch, there could be no guarantee anyway that one would get justice through the application of due process of law. But a more persuasive counter argument is that once the government accepts to confine its actions within the rules of law, then it would still be possible for the public to ask for improvements in the implementation of the process.
With the UDUB-controlled House of Representatives close to approving a draconian press law giving the government wide powers to clamp down on press freedom, and President Rayaale's deaf ears to calls for due process, more and more Somalilanders have enough good reasons to be alarmed about the future of their liberties.
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