Prime Minister Hassan Khaire of Somalia has been the subject of heavy criticism from Nicolas Berlanga, the EU Ambassador in the country, over the decision by the Federal Government of Somalia to ramp up arrest and detention of journalists.
The criticism is one of the harshest that the Federal Government of Somalia has received in recent years. According to Berlanga, the government has demonstrated aversion to criticisms from journalists.
President Mohamed Farmaajo’s administration has responded to the criticisms from journalists by deploying state power to silence them.
EU Ambassador issued his criticism during a video conference call with PM Khaire. He said the criticism represented the message from members of the European Union, who are unhappy at the turn of events.
Afterward, Berlanga posted a tweet saying, “Criticism is part and parcel of any democratic process. We abhor the government’s decision to limit freedom of expression, which could become another pandemic.”
Berlanga’s criticisms come at a time of increased arrest and detention of journalists in Somalia by the administration of President Farmaajo. The latest intimidation of journalists has attracted heavy condemnation from various stakeholders in the Horn of Africa nation.