Mogadishu based newspaper editor freed after days in jail

Mogadishu based newspaper editor, Abdi Aden Guled who was put behind bars three days ago has been released from detention centre manned by Somalia’s intelligence agencies, Somali media union, NUSOJ said on Wednesday.

Guled was arrested  by Intelligence agencies after the forces raided Xog Ogaal newspaper’s Mogadishu headquarters on the evening of 15 October.

National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) Secretary General, Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimu has welcomed the release.

“We welcome the release of our colleague and the government’s reaction to our call for the release,”said Moalimu.

It is yet unclear why Guled was arrested, but the union said it was the first time the government had acted against the paper.

Founded in 1991, Xog-Ogaal is the longest running daily newspaper in Mogadishu.

It has survived the civil war between Mogadishu warlords and the war between the Somali government and al-Shabab militants in the city.