Friday, March 7, 2025 {HMC} – The Somaliland Police have confirmed the arrest of a police officer whose footage went viral on social media on Thursday, showing him physically assaulting a young woman.
A statement from the police revealed that the officer had acted in violation of police conduct and would be brought to court to face the charges against him.
“The Somaliland Police Command has arrested the suspect, Police Officer Hadi Omar Baadi, who was seen in the viral video assaulting a young woman.
This action violates the ethics and conduct of the Somaliland Police Force. The accused will be promptly brought before a military court,” the police report stated.
This is not the first time a police officer has been taken to court for abusing a civilian. In recent years, several officers have been imprisoned after being convicted of human rights violations. There have also been instances where officers were caught on camera committing crimes but were never brought to justice.
Many people believe that a comprehensive reform is needed within the police force.
“The police are causing harm to the public, and it’s crucial that the police force undergoes a major reform and correction,” said Lawyer Guleed Dafac, an advocate for improving police ethics, who commented on the measures taken against the officer.
The current Somaliland government, which was once a victim of police abuse during its opposition years, is now implementing plans to reform the justice system within the police force and improve prison conditions.
