Two journalists kidnapped in Somalia released
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – The following is a 4 January 2009 joint statement by NUSOJ and Reporters Without Borders: Kidnapped British, Spanish journalists released The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcome the release of British journalist Colin Freeman and Spanish photojournalist José Cendon on 4 January 2009. Freeman and Cendon both […]
CAPSULE REPORT: Life and livelihood of journalists in danger, says NUSOJ Annual Report
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – The following is 28 December 2008 NUSOJ press release: 2008 Annual Report of Press Freedom Violations in Somalia SOMALIA: A Precarious and Perilous Place for the Press In 2008, the life and livelihood of Somali journalists were in danger and attacks to kill, hurt, harass and silence journalists were persistent throughout the year, […]
Radio reporter gunned down by member of pro-government militia
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders is outraged by the 1 January 2009 murder of Radio Shabelle reporter Hassan Mayow Hassan, who was gunned down by a member of a pro-government militia in Afgooye, 30 kilometres south of Mogadishu. “On the first day of the year, Somalia and Radio Shabelle have to mourn yet another journalist’s […]
Radio station in Islamist-controlled town forced off the air
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 19 December 2008 CPJ press release: Somali broadcaster silenced in Islamist-held city New York, December 19, 2008 – The only radio station in an Islamist-controlled town in southern Somalia was shuttered by militants in a raid last week, according to the station’s director. About 10 armed militiamen from Al […]
Radio station staff receive death threats, station is shut down; two journalists beaten by soldiers
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is protesting the shutting down of Radio Markabley in the Bardhere District of Gedo Region in southwest Somalia by the Regional Islamic Administration. The head of security at the Islamic Administration in Bardhere, Sheik Barre Qoje, went to the newly established radio station on 10 December […]
Journalist held in Somaliland freed after two weeks
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders notes the release, on 18 November 2008, of freelance journalist Hadis Mohammed Hadis, after being held for two weeks at the Criminal Investigation Department in Hargeisa, capital of the breakaway region of Somaliland in northern Somalia. Hadis Mohammed Hadis has already been arrested on several occasions over the last two […]
IFJ welcomes court action over killing of BBC journalist
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 27 November 2008 IFJ media release: IFJ Welcomes Court Action Over Killing of BBC Journalist The International Federation of Journalists has welcomed the action of a British coroner investigating the killing of a journalist in Somalia who called on the BBC to ensure journalists are never put under pressure […]
Two foreign journalists kidnapped
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is shocked by the kidnapping of two foreign journalists in the commercial city of Bossasso in Puntland, northeast Somalia. Colin Freeman, a British national, and José Cendon, a Spanish national, who are working for the “Daily Telegraph” newspaper in London as reporter and photojournalist respectively, were […]
Radio director arrested for broadcasting court ruling
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – NUSOJ condemns the arrest of journalist Hilal Sheik Shuayb, the director of the privately-owned Warsan Radio station in Baidoa, southwestern Somalia. Hilal Sheik Shuayb was arrested on 25 November 2008 by Transitional Federal Government (TFG) police in Baidoa who were following orders issued by the Bay region governor, Abdifatah Mohamed Ibrahim. The journalist […]
Galkayo-based radio station back on the air, director released but ordered to report to court
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders hails the reopening on 18 November 2008 of Radio Galkayo, a privately-owned station in the northeastern city of Galkayo, and the release of its director, Hassan Mohamed Jama, after three days in detention. Jama has nonetheless been ordered to report to a Galkayo court on 20 November at 9 a.m. […]
Radio Galkayo shut down, station director arrested
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – On 16 November 2008, NUSOJ condemned both the shutting down of Radio Galkayo radio station by the Puntland police and the arrest of journalist Hassan Mohammed Jama, the director of Radio Galkayo. The commander of the Puntland police in the Mudug region, Colonel Abdirisak Ismail, who is known as Darwish, along with a […]
Journalist arrested by security forces
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has denounced the arrest of freelance journalist Hadis Mohammed Hadis in Hargeisa and is calling for his immediate and unconditional release. Hadis was arrested on 3 November 2008 at Igal International Airport by officers from Somaliland’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID). According to journalists in Hargeisa, the […]
Suicide bomb attack injures three journalists
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – A suicide bomb attack on 29 October 2008 outside the Ethiopian consulate in Hargeisa, Somaliland, injured three journalists who were walking in front of the consular premises. Journalist Mohamed Harun Ahmed, of the Somaliland Space Channel, was severely injured as both of his legs were broken by the detonation. Journalist Jamal Abdi Mohamed, […]
Journalist arrested following complaint by humanitarian organisation
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is appalled to learn of the arrest and treatment meted out by Somaliland police to journalist Abdiqani Ismail Goh of Radio Las Anod. The journalist was arrested on 17 September 2008, after the head of the Somali Red Crescent (SRC) in Las Anod, Mr Dakir Ali […]
Bay region governor criticises and threatens journalists
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – On 14 September 2008, NUSOJ condemned the governor of the Bay region, Abdifatah Mohammed Ibrahim, for his campaign against the independent news media, notably against journalists who cover the conflict between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), with its allied Ethiopian troops, and Islamic insurgents. In a press conference held in Baidoa on 13 […]
Three journalists, driver abducted; another journalist detained overnight, released without charge
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has condemned the 23 August 2008 abduction of Canadian female journalist Amanda Lindhout and Australian photojournalist Nigel Brennan at KM13, a western suburb of Mogadishu between Afgoye district and the capital city. These two journalists arrived in Mogadishu on Wednesday 20 August. Lindhout, who is a […]