International Media Watchdog condemned Somaliland’s move to outlaw two TV Channels to operate in its region.
Somaliland police have carried out arbitrary arrests to hunt down activities, journalists, elders and journalists, a move criticised by local and international Human Right Groups.
The Somaliland government on Tuesday revoked licenses of RBS and SOMNEWS stations for allegedly covrring Las-Anod Protests against the breakaway.
The media houses were also accused of being “involved in political campaigns” and covering the conflict between Puntland and Somaliland states in Sool region.
Reporters Sans Frontiėres (RSF) has called on the leaders of the region stop harassing privately owned media outlets.
“We condemn the closure of the Privately-owned TV stations. The arbitrary arrests and closures must stop and the freedom to information must be guaranteed,” RSF said in a statement, it added, “The already deteriorated security environment for journalists covering this conflict has been compounded in recent weeks by growing unjustified harassment by Somaliland authorities.”
Free journalists
Mohamed Ahmed Jama’a Bidhanshe and Abdirahman Kayse Tungub who were working for RBS and Bulsho TV stations respectively were arrested after covering demonstrations and clashes in Sool region.
The organisation called for the release of the detained journalists forthwith.
“We call for the immediate release of these journalists who were just doing their job,” the agency urged.
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemn the arrests of the two journalists.
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemn the arrests of the two journalists.
Mid this Month, Somaliland apprehended freelance journalist, Adam Jama’a Oogle after reporting a Facebook post that the Sool region’s inhabitants supported Somali Unity.
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