By Goth Mohamed Goth
HARGEISA – The majority caucus of the Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA) convened on Tuesday to elect a new chairman, selecting Ahmed Khalid Farah, who previously served as the association’s deputy chairman, to lead the organization.
Ms.Sagal Baldeeq, a seasoned Somaliland journalist and former caucus member, was elected as the new deputy chairperson in the same session.
The vote took place despite the fact that the term of the outgoing chairman, Shafici Mohamed Ibrahim, had not yet expired. Speaking to the media shortly after the decision, Shafici rejected his removal, arguing that the process violated SOLJA’s constitution and internal governance protocols. He further alleged that external actors were behind the move, describing it as an attempt to undermine press freedom advocacy within the association.
In response, newly elected chairman Ahmed Khalid Farah acknowledged that SOLJA’s caucus had faced internal divisions and operational delays in recent months, including the postponement of several sub-committee meetings. He maintained that these challenges were among the key reasons prompting the leadership change.
Meanwhile, Ismail Ali Ahmed, chairman of the Horn of Africa’s Five Star Organization and an independent journalist and SOLJA member, called for the formation of an independent reconciliation committee. He urged that the committee operate free from the influence of both rival factions and the SOLJA caucus, with the aim of mediating the dispute and preserving unity among Somaliland’s journalistic community.
