Somaliland has been rocked by protests against telecommunications companies Telesom and Somtel after they unexpectedly raised the price of their internet packages yesterday.
The two companies Telesom and Somtel have agreed to increase the price of various internet packages by almost a million times, which quickly sparked a public outcry on social media.
There have been sporadic protests in parts of Somaliland, with a major protest planned for Sunday. The protest is being actively organized by the public on social media.
Three people were reportedly injured last night in clashes between police and angry people in the Sinai neighborhood of Hargeisa.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communications and Technology said it had summoned the companies that were complaining and would make a decision on the internet price increase on Saturday, saying the public deserves to have their grievances heard.
Somaliland police, for their part, described the protests as illegal, arguing that it is a crime to hold a protest without permission from the Ministry of Interior.
“In order to protect public safety and the safety of citizens’ property, no form of protest will be allowed without written permission from the Ministry of Interior and Security,” a police statement said.
The police statement contradicts the Waddani party’s argument during its opposition days that “protests are legal and do not require permission from the Ministry of Interior,” as the current government came to power after protests that left many people dead and that it led.
Somaliland’s businessmen are notorious for constantly raising the prices of essential services and livelihoods, making life in society expensive and unaffordable.
“Eerigaabo, Burco, Berbera, Gabiley, Boorama – all over the country, organize yourselves on Sunday. It is a nationwide protest, not just in Hargeisa. There are more people than businessmen. If we don’t prevent it, hunger strikes will follow,” said lawyer Guuleed Dafac, a leader of the protest organizers.
The public is waiting for the decision to be made at the meeting between the companies and the government, and then the public will take action if the meeting fails to yield any results, according to those campaigning for the uprising on social media.
