Somaliland police arrests author for incitement on social media

The breakaway Somaliland’s police have put a well-known author behind the bars on suspicion of publishing inciting material on Facebook, police spokesman said on Sunday.

Saiid Mohamud Gahayr, who is famous for his social affairs writings, had been taken in for questioning and subsequently arrested, could be slapped with additional and more concrete charges, according to Faysal Hiish Ahmed, police spokesman.

“Gahayr has been charged with inciting public violence and still the police are investigating the matter ” said Ahmed.

Ahmed said it was necessary to detain the leaders for a limited time to allow police to complete investigations.

Gahayr shot to instant fame after he posted a video of himself on Facebook earlier venting against the administration publicizing land owned by the locals and the government’s failure to provide basic services.

Somaliland, former colony of Britain declared a unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 but no country has so far recognized it as an independent state.