Somaliland police have arrested several journalists from different media stations based in Sanaag and Sool for covering local protests.
The journalists were identified as Khadar Mohamed Tarabi of Somali Cable TV and Khadar Rigah Ahmed who works for Universal TV.
Tarabi and Rigah were arrested on June 16, 2020 at 9am while filming locals protesting the government’s failure to include their community in the ongoing Somalia-Somaliland talks. .
The journalists were arrested immediately after police officers sent the protestors scampering to safety.
They were then taken into custody at Las Anod Central Police Station.
On Wednesday, the two journalists were released without any charges being filed against them in court.
Meanwhile, Jabir Said Duale, a journalist working for Horyaal TV, was arrested on June 16, 2020 for filming the same event.
Unlike his two other colleagues, Duale was arrested by officers from Somaliland Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
Just like his colleagues, though, Duale was released on Wednesday without appearing in court. The officers who arrested the journalist never filed any charge against him.
Nevertheless, authorities have made it clear that Duale should be ready to appear before them when summoned.