Somaliland police have declared illegal flags with tribal names, which some people posted on social media ahead of the May 18 event.
Police Chief Abdirahman Abdillahi Hassan ‘Abdi Dheere’, who spoke to the media, said that police forces will take legal action against anyone seen carrying a flag other than that of Somaliland.
“These days, we have seen illegal flags being carried by people on social media, which is illegal. We have ordered the police to arrest anyone carrying them and bring them to justice. Our country has only one national flag,” said Chief Abdi Dheere.
He added that during the preparations for the May 18 event, only the Somaliland flag can be carried and sold in the markets, and that it is not allowed to display party flags.
Social media users, some of whom are opponents of the government of President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Cirro, have posted videos of themselves wearing flags emblazoned with the names of specific communities, saying they will celebrate May 18 in a special way.
