National Union of Somali Journalists

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is profoundly concerned of ongoing harassments and intimidations of journalists and media executives in semi-autonomous region of Puntland in North-eastern Somalia.

On 25 May 2008, Governor of Eyn Region in Puntland ordered the arrest of journalist Ali Osman of Bossasso-based Somali Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) in Buhodle District. The journalist, who was detained 13 hours at Buhodle police station, was accused for a news report that was aired by SBC. The Regional Administration said the journalist reported that Somaliland flags were put in Buhodle square. SBC Director Mr Mowlid Haji Abdi confirmed the arrest of Ali Osman but denied the accusations from Eyn Regional Administration.

Due to soaring political and security crisis in Puntland, number of journalists and media owners in Bossasso and Garowe received intimidating phone calls. For security reason these journalists asked NUSOJ not to mention their names as they will safe repercussions. Some journalists were also threatened face-to-face and ordered not to talk about certain topics such contention among cabinet members, increasing insecurity and upcoming Puntland elections. Journalists particularly Radio reporters faced harassment by authority and tribal leaders for their reporting on private affairs of Puntland officials and factional politic.

“Political crisis make media in Puntland easily prone to political interfering and unjustifiable pressure” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General. “We denounce these forms of intimidations that cause a major threat to the independent work of media professionals in Puntland”.

Journalists who spoke to NUSOJ anonymously said that privately owned media became main target of political intimidations. This condition depressed local journalists from reporting facts in particular those related to competition between politicians. Puntland officials accuse some journalists of reporting unfounded stories with no proof or make use of being journalists to do other business through media. Reliable sources told NUSOJ that self-censorship among the media community in Puntland was already being applied.

“We demand from Puntland leaders to end battle against media professionals and hold their officials responsible for their attacks against the media” Omar Faruk added.