Somaliland Government Controlled Media Used To Incite Extremism

Somaliland Government Controlled Media Used To Incite Extremism

The opposition in Somaliland has long been complaining from what has become modus operandi for the ruling party, the unrestricted use of the government controlled media to vilify anyone who voices criticism at government policies.

Attempts by the opposition parties and the lawmakers to enforce laws that limit ruling party's misuse of the media for political purposes in the days and months leading to elections in the past had only fallen on deaf ears.

Lately, however, the government's use of the media has been taking a dangerous turn. Riyale government has used the media against domestic political targets in the past accusing senior opposition officials of colluding and even belonging to radical Islamic groups in Somalia. In one such incident a former member of the National Election Commission who later joined KULMIYE party was detained and held in prison for a month without trial being falsely accused by the Interior Minister of belonging to Al-Shabab.

Recently charges leveled against the two Horyaal Media reporters, who were held in jail for nearly a month, included the use of the media to "encourage murder" similar "to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda". The prosecutors in their failed bid at the court accused the reporters for sharing responsibility for the deaths of four innocent travelers who were murdered in Western Somaliland. Of course these accusations were politically motivated and would not stand a chance in a fair court of justice.

As Riyale administration continues to corner itself with its recent decision to expel Interpeace and continued attempt to suspend the voter registration list, it is facing isolation not only from within Somaliland but also from the international governments that would like to see democracy take root in the troubled regions in the Horn of Africa. Its response to the concerns expressed by foreign diplomats, just as it has been painting the opposition in the past, is to blame Interpeace and representatives of western countries as the "enemies of Somaliland". The latter is also accused of "interfering in our internal affairs" for voicing concern regarding the new obstacles Riyale placed in the path of democracy in Somaliland.

The government controlled media as usual has paraded paid individuals to speak against and angrily criticize what it calls "foreign intervention". This dangerous and narrow minded use of the public media is bordering criminality and may have severe consequences for Somaliland should fringe elements within the society use it to justify its causes. Radical individuals who are sympathetic to the religious extremists in Somalia certainly welcome anything that stirs hostility against foreigners which makes their job of recruiting youngsters into their ranks easier. A responsible government would not forget that it has been less than a year ago when suicide bombers targeted Hargeisa killing more than 30 civilians. This type of incitement on national media against "foreigners" could be used to justify more attacks on Somalis and non-Somalis alike.

Somaliland Globe