Two Reporters Arrested in Police Swoop on Radio Horyaal Office in Hargeisa

Two Reporters Arrested in Police Swoop on Radio Horyaal Office in Hargeisa

Hargeisa, Somaliland (Somaliland Globe)- Police and plainclothesmen of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) swooped on the office of Radio Horyaal today and whisked away two of its reporters who were engaged in their day-to-day routine work. 

The two Horyaal radio reporters who were named as Mohammed Osman Mire (known as Sayid) and Ahmed Suleiman (Known as Dhuhul) got hauled off to the CID detention centre. 

Although there was no immediate explanation as to what these men were arrested for or who ordered their arrest nonetheless it is widely believed that this was prompted by a decision reached by president Rayale and his notorious security committee, which was calling for the rounding up of radio, TV and print media journalists who are suspected to have fanned the flames of the violence that erupted between two clans in the district of El-Bardaleh.  

At least five people had been killed and more than six people were wounded in El-Bardaleh fighting which erupted on Friday.  

President Rayale hails from the clan who lost five men in this fighting.  

The president believes that the local media have played a role in the violence. However, president Rayale who received a delegation of elders from the other clan on Friday, warning him of the precariousness of the situation did not act swiftly upon their advice. The president also failed previously to act upon the recommendations made by the mediation subcommittee from the Upper House of Somaliland's parliament who undertook an investigation into the dispute 

Arbitrary arrest and detention of journalists by security forces without trial have become routine under Rayale's government. 
 

Neswsdesk

Somaliland Globe