FESOJ expressed concern over the detention of journalists and the closure of media stations during elections in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia February 03, 2022, The federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ) is expressing deep concern over the current increase of harassing, attacking and threatening acts against the Somali journalists and media stations at a time when elections for the lower house of the Parliaments are in progress.

The authorities of the regional states and the federal government are breaching the rights of the journalists and media for accessing and reporting information regarding the ongoing elections for the public interest.

In the last days of January 2022, journalists working with Radio Hiranweyn in Beledweyne city, Hirshabelle State and Radio Sooyal in Abudwak city, Galmudug State, have been attacked, detained and tortured.

The latest incident was the Darwiish police forces of Galmudug State has raided on Sunday, January 30, 2022. Radio Sooyaal/TV Abudwak district detained and beat its Director Mahad Bashir Osman for releasing an interview with a group of police officers who went on strike on Sunday due to unpaid salaries.

“Darwish Police forces first broke into the main gate of the radio premises before getting their way into the on-air studio and ordered the suspension of the live program.” Mahad Bashir Osman said.

Mahad has reported that he was taken to a bush area in a pickup vehicle previously belonging to Anti locust Agency, but marked with Galmudug Security forces insignia and was held for four hours and was transferred to the police station with his hands and legs chained. However, he was released the following day, Monday, January 31, 2022, without any charges and after the intervention of elders.

According to Mahad the armed officers confiscated external hard drives and memory cards used to record video interviews from the officers on strike. In addition, they damaged a desktop computer and chairs inside the studio.

Abdirahman Adan Sham’uun, a journalist, working with Radio Jowhar in Jowhar city, Hirshabelle State has escaped yesterday for his life to Mogadishu after interviewing clan groups who were expressing complaints against breaching the rights of their candidate to run in the election in Jowhar city.

On the other hand, on Friday, January 21, 2022, radio Hiranweyn in Beledweyne city, Hirshabelle State, has been reportedly raided, closed and seven of its journalists were detained, threatened and the police beat some after releasing interviews with local armed resistance who oppose the Hirshabelle authorities. Subsequently, the radio broadcast was allowed to resume on Saturday morning, January 22, 2022.

In addition, after two days, the police tortured journalist Abdullahi Ali Abukar to Beledweyne city after recognizing him as a journalist working with Radio Hiranweyn. He was held for a while and was forced to collect street stones thrown by the demonstrators before releasing him.

The Federation of SomaliJournalists (FESOJ) is concerned that these violations occur when some candidates running for the parliamentary seat complain about how the election process is being managed, and the journalists seek additional accurate information in that regard to transfer for the public knowledge.

As its well-known fact, the regional authorities are taking advantage of the financial support from the international community for undertaking the electoral process, which is expected to be fair and accountable, and the journalists and the media are allowed to have free access to information and improve freedom of expression and democracy without fear and intimidations.

“The Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ) is calling for the regional authorities to protect the safety and rights of the journalists and the media for improving freedom of expression and democratic values. FESOJ is also advising the journalists to be very vigilant at this sensitive period of the electioneering in Somalia.” Farah Omar Nur, FESOJ Secretary-General, Said.

“We call for the protection of journalists in this critical stage, as we also call for the Federal and Regional authorities to take measures to prevent these dreadful repetitive acts violating the overall right of press freedom, and without delay initiate credible investigation to hold the officers who carried these raids accountable.” Abadir AbdulkadirElmi, FESOJ Chairperson stated.

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