Sunday August 10, 2025
Hargeisa (HOL) – Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed
Abdillahi Cirro has overturned a decision by telecom giants Telesom and Somtel
to double internet service prices, a move that had sparked public outrage and
prompted plans for large-scale protests on Sunday.
“As the President of the Republic of Somaliland, I inform my
people that the Government and the telecommunications companies in the country
have agreed to suspend the recent decision to increase the price of internet
services and mobile phone calls,” Cirro announced in a statement posted on
Facebook. “The prices of services will remain the same until further notice,
and the Government will urgently hold discussions with the companies.”
Somtel was the first to comply, releasing a statement
saying: “We, as a public company, have accepted the suspension.”
The reversal drew widespread praise for both President Cirro
and lawyer Guuleed Dafac, who had helped mobilize public opposition.
The decision comes just two days after Somalia officially
joined the list of African countries with access to Starlink’s high-speed
satellite internet. Starlink, developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, went live
nationwide on Monday after regulatory approval in April.
Somali officials say Starlink could complement existing
providers such as Hormuud Telecom, Telesom, and Somtel, particularly in rural
areas where mobile network coverage is still absent.