MOGADISHU, Somalia 9 April, 2022 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) are concerned about the detention of freelance journalist, Abdisalan Ahmed Awad, who is held in undisclosed location by Somaliland intelligence service since 3 April 2022, and the sentence of a year in jail against another journalist, Ahmed Jama Hersi over a critical Facebook post.
On 3 April, officers from Somaliland intelligence service detained and beat Abdisalan Ahmed Awad from his home in Hargeisa after he raised complaints against the intelligence officers who attacked and injured him and another journalist on 18 March in Hargeisa. Colleagues who searched him said they could not find him at the gazetted police stations. A local human rights defender told SJS and SOMA that they suspect that the journalist is held in a private undisclosed location as the law does not permit the intelligence officers to jail somebody. Local journalists alleged the detention was carried by an intelligence unit led Ahmed Muse, the son of President Muse Bihi Abdi.
On 21 February, Somaliland police in Hargeisa arrested Star TV journalist, Ahmed Jama Hersi following a Facebook post deemed critical to Somaliland president, Muse Bihi Abdi amid his visit to the United States. He was held until 28 March, when the Marodi-Jeh Regional Court sentenced him to a year in jail and a fine of 1,000,000 Somaliland Shilling (USD 124). According to the court documents reviewed by SJS and SOMA, he was alleged on “publishing false news”. Colleagues said Hersi was freed a day after the sentence after he paid the fine and extra several hundred dollars in exchange for the year jail term.
SJS and SOMA condemn the arrest of the two journalists in Hargeisa. We demand Somaliland authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of journalist Abdisalan Ahmed Awad and investigate the allegations of torture by the arresting officers. Authorities must also release him unconditionally and allow him to pursue legal procedures against officers who attacked, shot and injured him during the 18 March attack.
“The attacks, harassment and detention of journalists who critically report on president Muse Bihi Abdi became the new norm in Somaliland. Last month two journalists survived armed attack in Hargeisa. Sadly, these attacks are carried by the intelligence officers attached to the presidency. We call authorities in Somaliland to respect press freedom and stop snatching journalists from their homes and the streets,” Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the Secretary-General of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) said. “We call for the immediate freedom of journalist Abdisalan Ahmed Awad and stop harassing him even if he decides to sue these brutal officers who attacked him on 18 March.”
“The detention of Abdisalan Ahmed Awad and Ahmed Jama Hersi are flagrant attacks on the media freedom in Somaliland. We are concerned that these attacks now became recurrent and forcing many journalists to flee Somaliland. We remind Somaliland authorities that attacks on journalists are not acceptable. They must not stop it,” Mohamed Osman Makaran, the Secretary-General of Somali Media Association (SOMA) said. “Free Abdisalam Ahmed Awad unconditionally and without delay.”