Front Line is deeply concerned following the targeting of the Somaliland Human Rights Organisations Network (SHURO-Net). SHURO-Net is an umbrella group of various human rights organisations, which operates in Somaliland. It has allegedly been taken over by government officials, compromising the independent work of SHURO-Net. Furthermore, threats have been made against the original members of SHURO-Net, particularly the Director Mubarik Ibrahim Aar.

Further Information

Posted 04/12/2007 On 24 October 2007, an Extraordinary Assembly of SHURO-Net was held without a member of the elected Board of Directors present at the meeting. Abdilaahi Aadan Cumar (Wayab), of SOLNA, the government news agency, was elected as the new Chairperson of the organisation. The Deputy Minister of Justice, Minister and Director General of Family Affairs also attended the meeting and all three government officials made speeches at the Assembly. Also present were members of the SHURO organisations from the city of Boroma, who stated that the city governor had threatened to close down their organisations if they did not attend.

On 31 October 2007, the Deputy Minister of Justice ordered the police to take over the offices of SHURO and recognised the administrative control of the illegally elected Board. On 3 November 2007, approximately 38 member organisations of SHURO-Net held a meeting, at which they recognised the Board elected in 2005, declared the assembly of 24 October illegal and condemned government interference in civil society organisations. The following day, SHURO-Net's Executive Director Mubarik Ibrahim Aar, was forcibly escorted to SHURO-Net's offices. The Deputy Minister of Justice, Chairman of the Human Rights Commission, the District Head of Police and other government officials were present at the offices and demanded that the director hand over control of the office and its contents.

On 8 November 2007, Mubarik Ibrahim Aar publicly resigned in protest at government interference in SHURO-Net. Since this time, his resignation has not been accepted. Apparently, he has been threatened on two separate occasions by the Deputy Minister of Justice that he will be punished if he does not cooperate with SHURO-Net. Threats have also been made against other against members of SHURO-Net, which have reportedly come both from the Ministry of Justice and the members of the 'new' SHURO Board.

Front Line is deeply concerned by governmental interference in the administration of SHURO-Net and threats made against Mubarik Ibrahim Aar. Front Line believes that the independence of civil society organisations and networks is integral to any democratic society, and fears that recent events in Somaliland are compromising the ability of SHURO-Net's member organisations to carry out their work in defence of human rights.