Journalists Mohamed Osman Mire, widely known Siyad, and Ahmed Suleyman Dhuhul, Director and News Editor of Horyaal Radio respectively were arrested at 15:40 local time on 13 July by Somaliland police at the office of the Radio Station in Hargeisa. The two journalists are being help at the CID headquarters. The police had shown the two journalists their arrest warrant and ordered to go with them, according to journalists in Somaliland.

“We condemn this climate of intimidation and fear that reigns on journalists in Somaliland. Detention of Mohamed Osman Mire and Ahmed Suleyman Dhuhul is illegitimate and strong sign of suppression of independent journalism for political reasons” said Omar Faruk Osman, left, NUSOJ Secretary-General. 

Somaliland authorities decided the arrest of Radio Horyaal journalists after the station aired on Friday evening (10 July) closed doors meeting between Somaliland President Dahir Rayae Kahin and 25 elders from Gabiley town, which reportedly ended in disagreement, according to trustworthy sources in Somaliland.

“These acts of intimidation are intolerable and Somaliland authorities must return immediately the freedom of the 2 journalists and end other actions of bullying against journalists and news media houses” Omar Faruk added.

On 15 July, Judge Sheik Hussein Warfa Sigad at Hargeisa Appeals Court issued a judgment banning Horn CABLE TV. This decision reversed a verdict of Hargeisa Regional Court, which rejected Somaliland Attorney-General’s Request of banning Horn CABLE TV for “inciting violence” that has existed in Eel-bardale town and “spreading false information”.

“We deplore banning of Horn CABLE TV because it is political moved court decision. It is widely believed that President Rayale and some of his cabinet members influenced the decision of the appeals court. Somaliland must allow Horn CABLE TV to resume its operations immediately and unconditionally, “ Omar Faruk Osman declared.

Somaliland authorities have been imposing increasingly restrictions on independent journalists working privately owned print and broadcast media in Somaliland by denying them access to information held by the government, barring critical journalists to cover events attended by Somaliland officials, denying advertisement for critical media and more intimidation tactics going on.

NUSOJ stands in solidarity with journalists and the media in Somaliland and urges Somaliland authorities to immediately take actions to end these serious aggressions against media professionals, which, if they continue, will only make worse the ongoing grave violations. 

NUSOJ received at least 4 cases of intimidated journalists. Due to these journalists fear of reprisal, NUSOJ could not make publicly the cases. 

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For further information, contact:
National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)
Taleex Street, KM4 Area, Hodan District,
Mogadishu, Somalia, tel/fax: +252 1 859 944,
e-mail: newsletter@nusoj.org  
Internet: http://www.nusoj.org

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National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is a national union representing Somali journalists to promote and protect freedom of the press and the interests and rights of journalists. It is a member of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Freedom of Expression exchange (IFEX), Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) and Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA). NUSOJ is partner with Reporters without Borders (RWB).
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