Hargeisa (SLpost News)- Somaliland’s Commission for Higher Education has ordered the immediate closure of Rift Valley University’s Berbera campus after an inspection concluded that the institution failed to comply with national higher education standards and regulatory requirements.
The decision was announced in a press statement issued on 23 July 2026 and signed by the Chairman of the Commission for Higher Education, Prof. Hassan Omar Halas.
According to the commission, an inspection team visited the university between 14 and 16 July 2026 as part of its statutory mandate to monitor the quality and compliance of higher education institutions across Somaliland.
The commission said the inspection found that the university had resumed operations without obtaining the required approval from the Higher Education Commission after a previous suspension. It also alleged that the institution failed to meet the country’s 16 Minimum Standards for higher education institutions.
Among the deficiencies identified were inadequate academic facilities, the absence of essential learning resources such as a library, failure to implement corrective measures previously recommended by regulators, and the continuation of academic activities despite outstanding compliance issues.
The commission also stated that the university had conducted academic exercises, including thesis proposal defenses, while allegedly operating outside the regulatory framework governing higher education in Somaliland.
Based on the findings, the Higher Education Commission ordered the immediate closure of the Berbera campus, effective 23 July 2026, and suspended all academic activities and new student admissions.
The commission further announced that arrangements would be made to transfer affected students to other universities in Berbera to ensure that their studies continue without interruption.
The decision, according to the commission, was made in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland, the National Education Law, and regulations governing the establishment, licensing, quality assurance and operation of higher education institutions.
Rift Valley University, the largest private University in Ethiopia with compuses in Somaliland, had not publicly responded to the commission’s decision at the time of publication.
The Higher Education Commission of the Republic of Somaliland has recently taken the same decision to shut down several branch campuses operated by private universities in different parts of the country as part of its regulatory oversight of higher education institutions.
Earlier this month, the Commission ordered the closure of branches belonging to six university campuses located in major towns across Somaliland. The move follows the Commission’s mandate to monitor higher education institutions and ensure compliance with academic standards and regulations.
The affected campuses include Alpha University’s branch in Oog District, Gollis University’s Sharia branch in Oog, Alpha University’s branch in Caynaba, Burao University’s Caynaba branch, Alpha University’s Oodweyne branch, and Gollis University’s Wajaale branch.
The closures are part of ongoing efforts by Somaliland’s higher education authorities to regulate the expansion of universities and ensure that academic institutions meet required licensing, quality assurance, and operational standards.
The decision has drawn attention among students, education stakeholders, and university administrations, as authorities continue efforts to strengthen oversight of the country’s growing higher education sector.
Reporting by Somalilandpost News
