Two Eritrean journalists captured in Somalia held with “foreign fighters”
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has called on the Somali and Ethiopian governments to explain why two Eritrean state TV journalists have been held in secret after being arrested late last year along with several Somalis and foreigners near the border with Kenya. “Like many other foreign journalists, they were reporting on the situation in […]
TV crew arrested by order of presidential official; ministry bans “unauthorised” conferences, lectures and public events
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has expressed concern about press freedom in Somalia after a presidential spokesman ordered the arrest of a TV crew and the authorities in Puntland, a stronghold of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, and banned journalists from holding professional meetings without permission. “Security problems and the risk of regional destabilisation must not […]
Five journalists attacked by armed men, equipment stolen; three journalists released
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 30 March 2007 IFJ media release: IFJ Condemns Shooting Attack on Journalists’ Car in Somalia The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the attack on five journalists whose car was ambushed by armed men as they went to cover a story in Hiran region in central Somalia. “We […]
Radio journalist and driver freed after being held for three days
(RSF/IFEX) – Radio Shabelle reporter Mohammed Bashir Sheik Abdirahman and his driver Osman Qoryoley were released on 24 March 2007 after being held for three days, Reporters Without Borders has learned from their employer. Abdirahman told his station they were “treated well” and that the “government troops guarding [them] gave [them] all [they] needed.” The […]
Government shuts down Al-Jazeera bureau in Mogadishu
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 23 March 2007 CPJ press release: Somali government shuts down Al-Jazeera bureau New York, March 23, 2007 – The bureau of satellite television Al-Jazeera in the capital Mogadishu was indefinitely shuttered on Thursday following an order from intelligence officials of Somalia’s Ethiopian-backed transitional government, according to news reports. The […]
Security forces arrest radio journalist and driver
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders said it was baffled by the arrest of Radio Shabelle reporter Mohammed Bashir Sheik Abdirahman and his driver Osman Qoryoley on the morning of 21 March 2007 in Mogadishu and called on the transitional federal government to adhere to the undertakings to ensure respect for press freedom that it gave […]
Arrested journalist held without charge, denied legal access
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 14 March 2007 CPJ press release: In Somalia, reporter held incommunicado since Friday New York, March 14, 2007 – A reporter for a leading broadcaster in the capital Mogadishu, has been jailed incommunicado since Friday by Somalia’s Ethiopian-backed transitional government while reporting on a story, local journalists told CPJ. […]
Four reporters assaulted by soldiers; another detained by pro-government forces
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 12 March 2007 IFJ press release: IFJ Calls on African Union to Protect Somali Journalists after Beating of Four Reporters The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the African Union (AU) to protect journalists in Somalia after the recent beating of four reporters by soldiers. Another reporter […]
High Court hands down heavy prison sentences to four journalists
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has condemned the heavy prison sentences passed on 4 March 2007 by a High Court in Hargeisa, the capital of the northern breakaway state of Somaliland, on the publisher of the privately-owned daily “Haatuf” and three of its journalists for allegedly defaming the government, the president and his family. “The […]
Radio journalist shot dead
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: IFJ Backs Calls for Urgent Action after Somali Journalist is Shot Dead The International Federation of Journalists today backed Somali journalists calling for a full investigation into the killing of a radio presenter and union activist who was set upon and shot dead at the weekend. […]
Somaliland daily’s imprisoned executives transferred to provincial jail
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has reiterated its appeal to the authorities in the northern breakaway state of Somaliland to release three newspaper journalists who have been held for several weeks and have just been moved from the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa to a provincial prison. “The Somaliland government’s inflexibility is dangerous,” the press freedom […]
Journalist Hassan Mohammed Abikar released; RSF urges government to commit publicly to press freedom after Mogadishu roundtable
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has urged the transitional federal government to publicly demonstrate its commitment to respect press freedom in Somalia after an historic four-day roundtable on freedom of expression was successfully held in Mogadishu by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ). “Now that the guns have fallen silent, important tasks can be […]
Two journalists still held for “insulting” the president; RSF denounces government’s unequal battle with newspaper
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an 18 January 2007 RSF open letter to President Dahir Rayale Kahin: Mr. Dahir Rayale Kahin President of the Republic Hargeysa, Somaliland Paris, 18 January 2007 Dear Mr. President, Justice has played very little role in what has happened with the newspaper Haatuf. Ever since the arrest of Yusuf Abdi […]
Three local radio stations and Al Jazeera told they can go back to work
(RSF/IFEX) – After negotiating with the managers of three privately-owned radio stations that were ordered to suspend broadcasting the previous day, Somalia’s transitional federal government told them on 16 January 2007 that they could resume broadcasting, Reporters Without Borders has learned from Omar Faruk Osman, the secretary-general of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ). […]
Three Mogadishu radio stations, two television stations ordered closed by national security agency
(CJFE/IFEX) -The following is a 15 January 2007 CJFE press release: Canadian Journalists for Free Expression alarmed by closing of Mogadishu radio stations (Toronto, January 15, 2007) CJFE is concerned about reports it received today from journalist Mohammed Elmi that the independent radio station HornAfrik, of which he is a founder, has been closed down […]
Radio station closed as government seat becomes hostile area for press
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has condemned the transitional government’s closure of Radio Warsan, a privately-owned radio station based in the southwestern city of Baidoa, and called on the authorities to explain why they are continuing to hold journalist Hassan Mohammed Abikar of Voice of the Holy Quran, another privately-owned radio station. “Baidoa, the seat […]