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    Heavy fighting ongoing in Mataban as troops launch assault on Al-Shabaab

    Heavy fighting ongoing in Mataban as troops launch assault on Al-Shabaab

    Four killed, three injured, including 2 journalists as vehicle hits landmine in Mataban

    Four killed, three injured, including 2 journalists as vehicle hits landmine in Mataban

    Somalis are ready to liberate their country but they lack the leadership to mid-wife the liberation

    New Somali government should open talks with Al-Shabaab-Crisis Group

    Al-Shabaab destroy telecom mast in Mandera

    Al-Shabaab destroy telecom mast in Mandera

    Al-Shabaab overruns Elbur district hospital in Galgadud region

    Al-Shabaab overruns Elbur district hospital in Galgadud region

  • Parliament
    Parliament approves Hamze Abdi Barre as Somalia’s 21st Prime Minister

    Parliament approves Hamze Abdi Barre as Somalia’s 21st Prime Minister

    Congratulations pour in for the newly elected Somali Prime Minister

    Somali parliament to hold vote of confidence on Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre

    Upper House approves 5-member constitutional Commission

    Upper House approves 5-member constitutional Commission

    Somali leaders welcome election of Adan Madobe as Lower House speaker

    Speaker forced to postpone session as Parliament yet again fails to reach quorum

    Parliamentary Election Committee to hold its first meeting

    Somali Parliament to discuss the 2022 budget

  • Education
    PM Roble flags off secondary school leaving exams for thousands of learners

    PM Roble flags off secondary school leaving exams for thousands of learners

    USAID announces $6.8M initiative to increase access to education in Somalia

    USAID announces $6.8M initiative to increase access to education in Somalia

    Hungary offers to absorb Somali students affected by war in Ukraine

    Hungary offers to absorb Somali students affected by war in Ukraine

    U.S funded basic literacy programme to reach 35,000 children in Somalia

    U.S funded basic literacy programme to reach 35,000 children in Somalia

    Somalia Graduate Survey: Students shun teaching and vocational careers

    Somalia Graduate Survey: Students shun teaching and vocational careers

  • Humanitarian Affairs
    World Bank approves close to $ 150 million to help vulnerable Somalis

    World Bank approves close to $ 150 million to help vulnerable Somalis

    On the brink of famine: Somalia’s Humanitarian Coordinator witnesses acute malnutrition,calls for action

    On the brink of famine: Somalia’s Humanitarian Coordinator witnesses acute malnutrition,calls for action

    Ending polio in Somalia: children vaccinated in national immunization day

    Ending polio in Somalia: children vaccinated in national immunization day

    As rains fail again, catastrophic hunger looms over Somalia

    As rains fail again, catastrophic hunger looms over Somalia

    UN announces $ 20 m aid for drought-stricken Somalia

    UN announces $ 20 m aid for drought-stricken Somalia

  • Diaspora Voices
    Saudi government donates food aid to thousands of families in Somalia

    Saudi government donates food aid to Somalia

    Mogadishu Port Remains Closed Over Tariff Dispute

    Former Somali lawmaker involved in Mogadishu twin explosions

    World expresses solidarity with Somalia after attack

    Somali soldiers allegedly tortured former MP

    Somali soldiers allegedly tortured former MP

    NUSOJ impasse deepens as ILO recognises Farouk as Secretary General

    NUSOJ impasse deepens as ILO recognises Farouk as Secretary General

  • Business
    U.S. donates close to 300,000 COVID-19 doses to Somalia

    U.S. donates close to 300,000 COVID-19 doses to Somalia

    Why the Benadir market fire was ignored

    Why the Benadir market fire was ignored

    Somalia seeks three-month extension of its IMF support programme

    Somalia seeks three-month extension of its IMF support programme

    Somalia asks Coastline Exploration for documents on PSA signing for probe

    Somalia asks Coastline Exploration for documents on PSA signing for probe

    Opinion: Could Somalia become the next Texas?

    PSA CONUNDRUM: Roble, Farmaajo were ‘supportive’, Coastline Exploration ‘perplexed’

  • Science & Tech
    Banaadir Hospital gets major upgrade from Chinese government

    Banaadir Hospital gets major upgrade from Chinese government

    Opinion: Could Somalia become the next Texas?

    PSA CONUNDRUM: Roble, Farmaajo were ‘supportive’, Coastline Exploration ‘perplexed’

    Controvery in Somalia as gov’t COVID-19 Twitter handle used to spread political messages

    Controvery in Somalia as gov’t COVID-19 Twitter handle used to spread political messages

    HIV infections on a steady decline in Somalia-WHO

    HIV infections on a steady decline in Somalia-WHO

    Yellow fever outbreak kills 21 in Congo, WHO says

    Researchers detect malaria resistant to key drug in Africa

  • Opinion
    Reform, reform, reform. How President Mohamud can cement his legacy

    Reform, reform, reform. How President Mohamud can cement his legacy

    Africa’s new harvest: sustainable development by innovation for transformation

    Africa’s new harvest: sustainable development by innovation for transformation

    OP-ED: Somalia’s women must succeed for Somalia to succeed

    OP-ED: Somalia’s women must succeed for Somalia to succeed

    Two political associations strike coalition deal to counter Deni’s KAAH in Puntland

    Puntland Local Government Elections: Revitalizing the democratic aspirations of Somalia

    The time to act on climate change is now – COP26

    The time to act on climate change is now – COP26

    ANALYSIS: Yasin’s NSC path on Ikran ‘murder’ contempt for PM and end of story

    ANALYSIS: Yasin’s NSC path on Ikran ‘murder’ contempt for PM and end of story

    Study: “Politics and mistrust” blamed for Somalia’s fiscal federalism deadlock

    Study: “Politics and mistrust” blamed for Somalia’s fiscal federalism deadlock

    EXCLUSIVE: Turkey skipped OIC meeting in Mogadishu over Somalia’s stance in Khashoggi crisis

    The Africa we strive for is possible in unity and solidarity

    OP-ED: Soil is the solution

    OP-ED: Soil is the solution

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      Heavy fighting ongoing in Mataban as troops launch assault on Al-Shabaab

      Heavy fighting ongoing in Mataban as troops launch assault on Al-Shabaab

      Four killed, three injured, including 2 journalists as vehicle hits landmine in Mataban

      Four killed, three injured, including 2 journalists as vehicle hits landmine in Mataban

      Somalis are ready to liberate their country but they lack the leadership to mid-wife the liberation

      New Somali government should open talks with Al-Shabaab-Crisis Group

      Al-Shabaab destroy telecom mast in Mandera

      Al-Shabaab destroy telecom mast in Mandera

      Al-Shabaab overruns Elbur district hospital in Galgadud region

      Al-Shabaab overruns Elbur district hospital in Galgadud region

    • Parliament
      Parliament approves Hamze Abdi Barre as Somalia’s 21st Prime Minister

      Parliament approves Hamze Abdi Barre as Somalia’s 21st Prime Minister

      Congratulations pour in for the newly elected Somali Prime Minister

      Somali parliament to hold vote of confidence on Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre

      Upper House approves 5-member constitutional Commission

      Upper House approves 5-member constitutional Commission

      Somali leaders welcome election of Adan Madobe as Lower House speaker

      Speaker forced to postpone session as Parliament yet again fails to reach quorum

      Parliamentary Election Committee to hold its first meeting

      Somali Parliament to discuss the 2022 budget

    • Education
      PM Roble flags off secondary school leaving exams for thousands of learners

      PM Roble flags off secondary school leaving exams for thousands of learners

      USAID announces $6.8M initiative to increase access to education in Somalia

      USAID announces $6.8M initiative to increase access to education in Somalia

      Hungary offers to absorb Somali students affected by war in Ukraine

      Hungary offers to absorb Somali students affected by war in Ukraine

      U.S funded basic literacy programme to reach 35,000 children in Somalia

      U.S funded basic literacy programme to reach 35,000 children in Somalia

      Somalia Graduate Survey: Students shun teaching and vocational careers

      Somalia Graduate Survey: Students shun teaching and vocational careers

    • Humanitarian Affairs
      World Bank approves close to $ 150 million to help vulnerable Somalis

      World Bank approves close to $ 150 million to help vulnerable Somalis

      On the brink of famine: Somalia’s Humanitarian Coordinator witnesses acute malnutrition,calls for action

      On the brink of famine: Somalia’s Humanitarian Coordinator witnesses acute malnutrition,calls for action

      Ending polio in Somalia: children vaccinated in national immunization day

      Ending polio in Somalia: children vaccinated in national immunization day

      As rains fail again, catastrophic hunger looms over Somalia

      As rains fail again, catastrophic hunger looms over Somalia

      UN announces $ 20 m aid for drought-stricken Somalia

      UN announces $ 20 m aid for drought-stricken Somalia

    • Diaspora Voices
      Saudi government donates food aid to thousands of families in Somalia

      Saudi government donates food aid to Somalia

      Mogadishu Port Remains Closed Over Tariff Dispute

      Former Somali lawmaker involved in Mogadishu twin explosions

      World expresses solidarity with Somalia after attack

      Somali soldiers allegedly tortured former MP

      Somali soldiers allegedly tortured former MP

      NUSOJ impasse deepens as ILO recognises Farouk as Secretary General

      NUSOJ impasse deepens as ILO recognises Farouk as Secretary General

    • Business
      U.S. donates close to 300,000 COVID-19 doses to Somalia

      U.S. donates close to 300,000 COVID-19 doses to Somalia

      Why the Benadir market fire was ignored

      Why the Benadir market fire was ignored

      Somalia seeks three-month extension of its IMF support programme

      Somalia seeks three-month extension of its IMF support programme

      Somalia asks Coastline Exploration for documents on PSA signing for probe

      Somalia asks Coastline Exploration for documents on PSA signing for probe

      Opinion: Could Somalia become the next Texas?

      PSA CONUNDRUM: Roble, Farmaajo were ‘supportive’, Coastline Exploration ‘perplexed’

    • Science & Tech
      Banaadir Hospital gets major upgrade from Chinese government

      Banaadir Hospital gets major upgrade from Chinese government

      Opinion: Could Somalia become the next Texas?

      PSA CONUNDRUM: Roble, Farmaajo were ‘supportive’, Coastline Exploration ‘perplexed’

      Controvery in Somalia as gov’t COVID-19 Twitter handle used to spread political messages

      Controvery in Somalia as gov’t COVID-19 Twitter handle used to spread political messages

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      HIV infections on a steady decline in Somalia-WHO

      Yellow fever outbreak kills 21 in Congo, WHO says

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      Reform, reform, reform. How President Mohamud can cement his legacy

      Reform, reform, reform. How President Mohamud can cement his legacy

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      Africa’s new harvest: sustainable development by innovation for transformation

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      OP-ED: Somalia’s women must succeed for Somalia to succeed

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      The time to act on climate change is now – COP26

      The time to act on climate change is now – COP26

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      ANALYSIS: Yasin’s NSC path on Ikran ‘murder’ contempt for PM and end of story

      Study: “Politics and mistrust” blamed for Somalia’s fiscal federalism deadlock

      Study: “Politics and mistrust” blamed for Somalia’s fiscal federalism deadlock

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      OP-ED: Soil is the solution

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      Somalia: Spate of Arrests, Intimidation of Journalists

      Saturday May 2, 2020
      in Featured, featured, international News, Security, World
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      Somalia: Spate of Arrests, Intimidation of Journalists
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      Somali authorities have been stepping up their intimidation of journalists as the country faces a growing number of Covid-19 cases. Since mid-April 2020 alone, authorities arbitrarily detained three journalists, accused two of various crimes, and prohibited a local radio station from broadcasting in a local dialect.

      As of April 30, Somalia had 601 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 28 deaths reported. The country is also scheduled to hold general elections in late 2020 or early 2021, possibly the country’s first open election in 50 years. Somali authorities should use World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2020, to commit to ending arbitrary arrests and harassment of journalists.

      “Somali authorities should stop jailing and harassing journalists at the very time when getting the news is crucial,” said Laetitia Bader, Horn of Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “An independent media protected from abuse is key to ensuring that Somalis have information to make informed decisions during the pandemic.”

      On April 20, in the town of Baidoa, the authorities detained a Voice of America (VOA) reporter, Mukhtar Mohamed Atosh, and held him for two nights before releasing him on April 22. A court document stated that he was under investigation on charges of “publication of false, exaggerated news” and “giving false alarm to the authorities.”

      Mukhtar told Human Rights Watch that the regional police questioned him about an April 19 VOA news story in which he reported on the alleged rape of three women on the road between Mogadishu and Baidoa and the death of one from her injuries.

      On April 14, the police summoned Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye, the chief editor and deputy director of the private Goobjoog Media Group, to the Hodan police station in Mogadishu, where there was a warrant for his arrest. This followed two posts on his Facebook pages criticizing the Somali government’s response to the Covid-19 crisis. One post alleged that President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (“Farmajo”) had taken one of the few ventilators recently donated to a hospital in Mogadishu.

      On April 15, prosecutors before the Benadir regional court said that they were investigating Abdiaziz on charges of “offending the prestige and honor of the head of state” and “publication of false news,” among other provisions. Conviction on these charges can be punished with up to three years in prison. The judge ordered Abdiaziz transferred to Mogadishu Central Prison pending investigation. On April 18, he was released on bail.

      On April 2, Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) posted on its Twitter account that it was investigating Harun Maruf of VOA, a prominent, veteran United States-based journalist and co-author on a book on Al-Shabab, as having “links that are a threat to national security” and accused him of engaging in actions “outside of the media code of conduct.” On April 23, the agency announced on Twitter that it had completed the investigation and was handing over the file to the country’s attorney general.

      According to Somali journalist organizations, the authorities arrested journalist Mohamed Abidwahab Nur (known as Abuja) on March 7 and held him incommunicado. On April 22, after the journalist organizations protested his detention, the Ministry of Information announced that he was being detained by security agencies and under investigation for Al-Shabab membership and murder.

      Human Rights Watch wrote to Federal Attorney General Suleiman Mohamed Mohamud on April 28 asking for details of the status of the investigations into Abdiaziz, Harun, and Mohamed Abuja but did not receive a response.

      On April 24, the police briefly held Farhan Mohamed Hussein, a reporter with Radio Kulmiye, while covering a sudden outbreak of protests against the police, after the police fatally shot two people during a coronavirus curfew. They detained Farhan shortly after he arrived at the scene of the shootings, and took him to the Bondhere district police station, where he was forced to delete his photos and audio, and then released him.

      On April 20, in the coastal town of Barawe, District Commissioner Omar Sheikh Abdi ordered a private community radio station, Radio Barawe, to stop broadcasting programs in Barwani, the local dialect. The order followed an April 17 broadcast on Universal TV network of a program featuring Radio Barawe. The station director said that the district commissioner arrived at the station at 8:30 p.m. with armed guards and ordered him to stop the broadcast. After significant public outcry and a statement from the region’s governor, the station was able to resume its Barwani programing late on April 21.

      Somalia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, as they face threats and attacks from government officials, private individuals, and the Islamist armed group Al-Shabab. Impunity for killings of journalists remains the norm. Journalists seeking to report on security issues and human rights abuses have regularly faced harassment and intimidation and many have been compelled to resort to self-censorship. These problems have increased during previous pre-election periods. Amnesty International has reported that Somalia’s current government regularly threatens, harasses, and interferes with the social media accounts of journalists who post critical comments.

      The country’s outdated penal code, which came into force in 1964, includes a number of vague and overly broad crimes, including criminal defamation; offending the honor and prestige of the head of state; insulting a public officer or institution; and contempt against the nation, state, or flag, that contravene regional and international human rights standards.

      The authorities have used these vague criminal laws on a number of occasions to silence critical reporting and commentary, Human Rights Watch said. The police detained another popular Goobjoog journalist, Ali Adan Mumin, for three days in May 2019 and accused him of insulting public officials in Facebook posts criticizing the country’s intelligence agency. He has since fled the country, fearing for his security.

      A Human Rights Watch report in March 2020 on the human rights dimensions of the Covid-19 response and government obligations noted that governments have an obligation to protect the right to freedom of expression, including the right to seek, receive, and impart information of all kinds. Any restrictions on this right must be lawful, proportionate, and necessary to achieve legitimate objectives. Access to timely and accurate information and open public debate are crucial for addressing the public health crisis.

      The Somali government should ensure that the public is kept informed and that people are allowed to express their views, including criticizing the government’s response to Covid-19, Human Rights Watch said.

      “The free flow of information is especially important in addressing and curbing the Covid-19 pandemic,” Bader said. “The government should be encouraging coverage of the pandemic and taking to heart people’s concerns and fears, rather than trying to stop the flow of information.”

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      GOOBJOOG MEDIA GROUP is an independent private media network in Somalia whose charter is driven by the quest for public service journalism. This is in realization of the overarching principle of fostering peace and economic development through media. With unparalleled access to news sources and locations across the country backed by a team of professional journalists.

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