Somalia / Al-Shabaab Detains Media Director Overnight

Somalia / Al-Shabaab Detains Media Director Overnight

MOGADISHU, March 17, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Ahmed Omar Salihi, a Director of Markabley Radio in Bardhere town and head of NUSOJ Southwest Branch was arrested by Al Shabaab group on Tuesday night (16 March), but he was released on Wednesday (17 March 2010) after they brought him before a court in Bardhere of Gedo region.

Ahmed's arrest follows yesterday's arrest of two journalists. He was accused of refusing to allow Al-Shabaab to listen recorded voice of Mohamed Salad Abdulle, Radio Markabley stringer in Kismayo who was arrested yesterday. Ahmed was also accused of encouraging his reporters to file negative reports about Al-Shabaab.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) believes that this is wider campaign by Al-Shabaab against the media after they consolidated their control in most of southern regions of the country. Following countrywide and global outcry of killings of journalists, Al-Shabaab changed its tactics to silence journalists by arresting.

Source: The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)

-------
Profile: intent