Somalia: Puntland frees two detained journalists

GAROWE, Somalia, May 24, 2015(Garowe Online)-Somalia’s Northeastern state of Puntland has released two detained radio journalists from a police station in the state capital of Garowe on Sunday morning, Garowe Online reports.

Daljir Radio Director Abdirahman Gaardi and station editor Jamal Farah were set free following joint efforts by Nugal regional administration and Media Association of Puntland (MAP).

Adan-who spoke to Garowe Online-alleged that the order to arrest them came from Puntland presidency.

“We’re not just farm animals, sometimes arrested and sometimes freed. We have a right to be proved the reasons behind our arrest and any criminal offences we committed,” detained station editor, Adan told GO.

After lengthy debate, MAP, security ministry and presidential officials agreed to discuss the jailing of two journalists on Monday.

Daljir Radio moderated an hour long programme on the worsening security situation, and ailing economy on Friday.

On Saturday, Media Association of Puntland (MAP) Chairman, Faisal Khalif Barre and Daljir Director-General Ahmed Sheikh Mohamed (Tallman) condemned the detention of two prominent station journalists, calling on security agencies to unconditionally set the two free.

In December 2014, Reporters Without Borders unveiled that media is censored with impunity in the northeastern state.

On December 7, Garowe police stormed Radio Garowe, with station journalist being threatened with arrest.

In a leaked letter, presidential aide ordered that Garowe Online and four other websites be blocked from inside Puntland, drawing condemnation in late 2014.

Somalia was ranked 176th of 180 countries in the 2014 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.  

GAROWE ONLINE