MOGADISHU, Somalia, 4 March 2024 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) calls on the Somaliland authorities to lift the ongoing ban on Universal TV and to stop detaining journalists who scrutinize government officials, while also urging Somalia’s Southwest State officials to allow independent media to report on issues of public interest.

On 27 February, authorities in Somalia’s Southwest State ordered three local media stations—Arlaadi Media, Voice of Baay and Bakool, and Radio Warsan—to halt their planned Ramadan radio contest, which was scheduled to start on Saturday, 1 March. The official who issued the directive was Isak Hassan Mohamed, who was then the chairman of the youth committee for the Baidoa district administration but has since been promoted to a member of the Southwest State Assembly, during an appointment on 27 February.

The three media representatives told SJS that no reason was provided for the order, except that the district official complained that the “Ramadan contest was organized without his knowledge.” Mr. Isak did not respond to SJS when contacted for clarification. However, SJS was informed by officials at the Southwest State media that a separate Ramadan radio contest had been organized by the state media.

Sources SJS spoke to suggested that the independent media contest might have attracted a larger audience, which concerned the authorities, as it could lead to a decline in state media listenership.

The issue was later resolved, and the three media houses informed SJS that they have since begun the contest without further restrictions on Saturday 1 March.

Meanwhile, the Southwest State is reportedly preparing for its upcoming elections, though no date has been set. On 27 February, the regional assembly re-elected Dr. Ali Said Faqi as its Speaker of Parliament, while 11 members of the regional assembly were replaced. Independent media coverage was blocked during these activities, with only state-owned media being allowed to report.

On 25 February, Somaliland’s Togdheer Governor, Mohamud Ali Saleban (Ramaax), ordered the detention of three local journalists in Burao: Said Ali Osman (Said Xaaleys) of Sky Cable TV, Ayanle Ige Duale of Sahan TV, and Abdiasis Saleban Sulub of KF Media. Said Ali Osman was detained after interviewing Governor Ramaax on the same day and asking about his relationship with local clan militias in the region. During the interview, the governor was seen walking away from the camera in protest of the question, which he did not answer.

The clan militia groups, known locally as SSB and G36, which were involved in recent conflicts in the Sanaag and Sool regions, were reportedly integrated into the Somaliland army following an announcement by President Abdirahman Irro.

Ayanle Ige Duale and Abdiasis Saleban Sulub were detained after publishing reports on their respective Facebook accounts alleging that “the Togdheer regional administration and other officials had used bulldozers to destroy water reservoirs, claiming they were demolishing illegally occupied land”. The journalists further alleged that, “while rural areas of the Togdheer region were suffering from severe drought and widespread water shortages, the authorities responsible for water provision were instead destroying the very sources that the thirsty population relied on”.

According to the detained journalists and others who spoke to SJS, the three journalists were released after spending 24 hours in Burao police cells. They were not charged.

On 12 February, Somaliland’s Ministry of Information, Culture, and National Guidance ordered the closure of the privately-owned Universal TV in Somaliland following a news report on 11 February about Somaliland President Abdirahman Abdillahi Irro’s visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he attended the World Governments Summit in Dubai reiterating Somaliland’s ambition for international recognition.

In the Universal TV report reviewed by SJS, the journalist raised the issue of Somaliland’s unrecognized status and suggested that President Irro’s invitation to the UAE could be interpreted as a “breach of Somalia’s territorial integrity.”

The ministry’s directive signed by Somaliland’s Minister of Information, Ahmed-Yaasin Sheikh Ali Ayanle, which SJS had seen had accused Universal TV of “violating the agreement the television management had entered with Somaliland” and that they had breached “Somaliland’s nationhood.”  As a result, the ministry ordered all cable networks to remove Universal TV from their listings, banned the use of its logo, and instructed local advertisers to terminate all advertising agreements with the station.

Universal TV representatives told SJS that the station remains closed in Somaliland as of 4 March, and that their journalists are unable to work from within Somaliland.

The ban on Universal TV appears to be a punitive measure against its editorial stance, as Somaliland authorities have shown a clear lack of tolerance for critical media coverage. On 6 January, 2024, Somaliland security forces raided the offices of MM TV in Hargeisa during a live broadcast discussing the Somaliland-Ethiopia Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The raid involved the use of physical violence against journalists and staff, resulting in the detention of MM TV founder Mohamed Abdi Ilig, reporter Mohamed Abdi Abdullahi (Andar), and cameraman Ilyas Abdinasir.

“SJS calls on Somaliland authorities to allow Universal TV to resume operations and stop punishing independent media, such as Universal TV and others for their editorial choices. We also urge Somaliland to stop detaining journalists simply for asking critical questions to officials,” said SJS Secretary General Abdalle Mumin.

“We also call on Southwest State to create space for independent media ahead of its reportedly planned elections. Authorities in Baidoa must recognize the crucial role independent media plays in fostering transparency and accountability within society,” Mr. Mumin adds.