The Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ) has condemned the government’s decision to ban Radio Barawe.
FESOJ termed the act a “gross violation of human rights” too.
Authorities in Southwest State banned the media outlet from using local dialects in its broadcasts, a decision FESOJ said amounts to censorship.
Abdikarim Sheikh Ali, the Deputy Commissioner of Barawe Town, reprimanded Radio Barawe during an interview with the media this week.
Further, he stated that the station’s failure to adhere to the warnings and instructions could attract heavy penalties.
After speaking with local authorities, FESOJ discovered that the South State Ministry of Information issued the directive upon arguing that only two dialects are recognized in Somalia.
FESOJ’s Secretary General, Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, said, “Banning journalists and reporters from using their local dialects is a violation of international norms of journalism.”
Moalimuu called on the Southwest authorities to rescind their decision on Radio Barawe and allow its journalists to broadcast in local dialects, which most residents of Barawe understand.