Somalia

According to Mohamed Aweys Mudey’s family, the journalist was sentenced to 27 years in prison in the last week of February 2014, under Ethiopia’s anti-terror law. He did not have a lawyer or family member with him during his trial.

Galmudug security forces recently arrested an Al-Shabaab fighter. On him, they found a hit list which included the director of Radio Galkayo, Awil Mohamud Abdi.

Security officers arrested Mohamed Bare on 11 February for posting photos on the Radio Danan website showing the Lower Shabelle region’s vice-president after he was injured by a bomb.

Being a reporter in Somalia is dangerous business. Journalist Mustafa Haji Abdinur speaks about the risks he faces, and what can be done to tackle impunity. Listen to the podcast and share it with your networks on Twitter.

A radio journalist was seriously wounded today after Al-Shabaab fighters wearing suicide vests and carrying guns and grenades attacked Villa Somalia, the presidential palace.

Ali Ilyas Abdullahi was assaulted and detained overnight by security forces in Baidoa after he was accused of trying to cover a meeting about the proposed formation of a regional state in southwestern Somalia.

Somaliland’s Minister of Information, Culture and National Guidance has announced that the operating licence of London-based broadcaster Universal TV has been revoked, alleging that the station has been known to transmit “insults” against Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud (Silanyo).

Somali rebel group (and US-designated terrorist organization) Al Shabaab has reportedly banned the use of the Internet through mobile handsets and fiber optic cables throughout Somalia, giving telecommunications companies 15 days to comply with the order.

NUSOJ recorded 7 media workers, including 6 journalists who were cold-bloodedly murdered from 18 January to 26 October 2013. All media victims were working for broadcast media

Faysal Jama Adan, a reporter for Radio Bar Kulan, was arrested by police in Las Anod on 3 January while attempting to cover a demonstration by businesswomen.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has strongly condemned a wave of arbitrary arrests against journalists operating in the Southern port town of Kismayo, where three journalists were arrested over seven days.

On 9 December, a Mogadishu regional court sentenced Shabelle Media Network chairman Abdiimalik Yusuf to a year in prison for insulting state institutions, and reporter Bashir Hashir six months in prison for defaming alleged rapists in a video interview he posted online.

Radio Shabelle journalist Mohamed Bashir Hashi posted a video online in which he interviewed a young female reporter describing her alleged rape by two male journalists. Hashi and the woman were later arrested after one of the two incriminated journalists filed a complaint against them.

The Minister of Information, Posts, Telecommunication and Transport gave private media outlets until 10 November to register at his ministry without specifying the fees to pay and the criteria. He further requested that media houses without licences be closed down after said date.

Groups suspects the real motives behind the eviction and raid of the Shabelle Media Network to be its independent and critical reporting.

Mohamed Mohamud Tima’ade died in hospital on 26 October, just days after being shot six times by unidentified assailants. Tima’ade is the seventh media worker to be killed in Somalia in this year.