Monday, January 5, 2015
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The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) on Monday condemned the arbitrary arrest of two broadcast journalists in Mogadishu on Sunday afternoon by the Somali security forces, the latest in a string of harassment of journalists in Somalia.The two; Mohamed Salaad Osman, the head of programs of Goobjoog Radio and Ibrahim Haji Yusuf, were arrested on Sunday afternoon while the journalists were busy covering an explosion in Waberi neighbourhood, according to Goobjoog Radio, adding that the journalists were taken to an unknown destination.
"Arresting journalists on duty is an obstruction to media freedom and the freedom of expression," Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSJ Secretary General, said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
The arrest of the journalists comes in the heels of the Shabelle and Sky FM journalists who were taken in custody since August and are appearing before the regional court on Monday.
On Saturday, the government closed down Radio Risaala and arrested the director, Mohamed Abdiwahab Abdullahi, its editor Mohamed Kaafi Sheikh Abukar and a reporter, Mohamed Abdi Ali.
The journalists are still in jail and the radio station remains closed after the media house reported that there was an unconfirmed Ebola virus in the country.