Puntland security forces arrested freelance journalist Dalmar Socdaal in Galkayo after he allegedly registered for the Somali national identity card, a process that Puntland authorities had previously rejected.
Reports indicate that the journalist was subjected to torture before his arrest, sparking outrage among media organizations and journalists in Puntland.
The Puntland administration has strongly opposed the federal government’s rollout of the national identity card in Galkayo, arguing that it is politically motivated and undermines the region’s autonomy. Puntland leaders have been at odds with the federal government over political and administrative matters.
The mayor of Mudug Faysal Sheikh Ali (Jifojabsade) warned that individuals participating in the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) process would lose their Puntland citizenship rights and face consequences.
“Puntland does not accept federal-level registration in its territories,” the governor stated.
The Puntland government has also expressed concerns over the security and reliability of the data collected under the program, arguing that it is “neither secure nor safeguarded from falling into unreliable hands.”
