Hargeisa- Human Rights Watch annual review of human rights around the globe says "Somaliland authorities continue to restrict public criticism of their governance and policies".

Human Rights Watch issues every year a report summarizing key human rights issues in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide. In 2107 Report, here is the section covering Somaliland.

"Somaliland authorities continue to restrict public criticism of their governance and policies. In May, the justice minister revoked the license of human rights lawyer, Guleid Ahmed Jama, on dubious grounds that his work as a lawyer and as the chairman of a human rights organization were incompatible. The chief justice later revoked the suspension. Authorities regularly detained journalists; some resulted in criminal charges,” the report said.

Somaliland continued with its negative trend of executions with seven people executed in 2016.

Somaliland authorities have failed to sufficiently control and regulate private mental health centers that have confined patients involuntarily and subjected them to chaining, and, on occasion, beatings. One private center improved it treatment of those with mental disabilities by closing its inpatient facilities and providing support to patients in their communities.”