A growing wave of copyright-related takedowns on social media is increasingly affecting Somali opposition figures and Federal Member States critical of the policies of the federal government, whose mandate expired on 15 May. Over recent months, several official videos, speeches and public addresses have been removed from Facebook and other Meta platforms following copyright claims, raising concerns among political actors and media observers about the impact on public communication.
Among those affected is former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, whose official content has reportedly been removed following copyright complaints. Similar takedowns have also targeted official accounts linked to regional administrations that have publicly disagreed with the federal government’s political agenda.
The Puntland President’s official page and the Puntland State House account have been among the most affected. Multiple speeches and official broadcasts have been removed in recent weeks after copyright claims, limiting access to public statements and government updates. Officials in Puntland have not publicly identified those responsible for the complaints but have expressed concern over the repeated removals.
The trend has also affected content associated with Jubaland, adding to concerns that copyright mechanisms are increasingly being used in Somalia’s political information space. While copyright systems are intended to protect intellectual property, critics argue they can also disrupt the distribution of official communications when claims are disputed or contested.
Meta has not publicly commented on the recent wave of copyright-related removals or whether the cases are connected. The company continues to operate its standard copyright enforcement procedures, allowing rights holders to submit infringement claims while providing users with avenues to appeal or dispute removals.
The increase in takedowns comes as political tensions remain high in Somalia, with opposition leaders and several regional administrations continuing to criticize the federal government’s policies. The growing use of copyright complaints against official political content has sparked debate over the balance between intellectual property protection and access to public information.
