Somalia: Press Freedom Under Pressure as Puntland Journalists Face Police Action Over Security Reporting

The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) - a journalist union based in Mogadishu - said two journalists faced police action in October after reporting on security developments in Puntland, including clashes between police and clan gunmen. Maher Mohamud Ahmed was summoned by police in the city of Qardho on October 16, a day after covering clashes between Puntland's newly deployed Birmad police force and clan gunmen. The violence reportedly stemmed from a government operation to disarm clan militias and left at least two people dead, according to local media. Maher, who publishes reports on Facebook and has more than 9,000 followers, told SJS that police warned him about his coverage. He was not arrested. Police in Qardho did not comment on the case, according to  statement released by Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) In a separate incident, police raided the home of journalist Hassan Ahmed Abdale, known as Hassan Baashe, in Puntland's capital, Garowe, on October 25 and arrested him without a warrant, SJS said. Officers searched Hassan's home before taking him to a police station in eastern Garowe, where he was held for three days. His detention was then extended by seven days pending an investigation, according to the organization. Hassan told SJS that on October 27, police instructed him to sign a letter agreeing to stop reporting on issues considered harmful to Puntland's image. Hassan reports for Dunida Online, a Facebook-based news outlet with more than 220,000 followers that covers Puntland and other parts of Somalia. His recent reports included coverage of the deployment of Puntland Maritime Police Force personnel to Garowe ahead of President Said Abdullahi Deni's address to parliament on October 25. The outlet also reported on security tensions in the port city of Bosaso involving police and militia members opposed to the government's disarmament order. The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) called on Puntland authorities to stop using arrests and police summonses to discourage journalists from covering security incidents and government actions. "Journalists must feel safe and free to carry out their reporting," SJS secretary-general, Abdalle Mumin, said in a statement, adding that Puntland's constitution and Somalia's federal constitution guarantee freedom of expression and pledged to support the two journalists as they challenge what it described as intimidation through legal channels. In July, Puntland authorities detained journalist Suways Jama Mohamud for 13 days over a video about armed militia. Journalist Mohamed Jama Mohamud was arrested in Bosaso after reporting on protests against increased port taxes, while Shucayb Daad Mohamed was detained after covering business closures and port disruptions.