Somaliland Police arrests MP who questioned 18th May as the Independence Day

Somaliland police have detained an MP for opposing the commemoration of 18th  May as the National Independence Day, on Thursday evening.

This comes after a controversial press conference held by a House of Representatives MP, for Sool Region, Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Dhakool. He questioned the glorified day of May 18, which the Republic of Somaliland was declared in Burao in 1991.

The MP proposed that the correct Independence Day of Somaliland is June 26. On that day in 1960, Somaliland gained independence from the British colonial rule.

Mr. Dhakool claimed that May 18 is not an independence day and its history did not belong to all Somalilanders.

Somaliland Police have confirmed the arrest of the MP. Deputy Police Commissioner Gen. Abdirahman Liban Foohle told the press that the MP has broken the law by denying the birth of Somaliland. Police allege Mr. Dhakool to have incited division and hatred.

These remarks from the lawmaker are not new. Around the month of May in recent years, debates arise whether Somaliland’s Independence Day is June 26 or May 18.

Other notable figures who believe that June 26 is more historic than 18^th May include Prof. Ahmed Ismail Samatar and Ali Khalif Galaydh.