Somali Journalists’ Syndicate (SJS) has condemned the detention of four journalists in Galmudug and Somaliland.
SJS issued a statement on January 29 expressing its displeasure at the harassment that local journalists continue experiencing at the hands of state officials.
SJS issued the statement jointly with Somali Media Association (SOMA).
On January 20, Mohamed Abdiweli Tohow and Abdulkadir Abdullahi Mohamed were detained following the orders of Osman Ali Hudey, Galmudug’s Police Commissioner.
Tohow and Mohamed are freelance journalists.
That incident took place a few days after Somaliland police detained Ali Adan Dirir, who works for Horn Cable TV as a reporter.
On January 4, intelligence officers in Somaliland arrested Abdisalan Ahmed Awad, yet another freelance online journalist.
SJS and SOMA expressed delight at the news that the journalists in Galmudug and Somaliland had all been freed.
However, the two organizations condemned the continuous harassment, detention, and threats that local journalists in Somalia and Somaliland experience.