The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) strongly condemns the arbitrary two journalists last Thursday in Mogadishu by National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), one of the journalists was released on Friday without after spending 24hrs in NISA custody, another still in NISA custody, the latest in a string of attacks against the press in Somalia.
Members of the NISA arrested Abdukar Mohamed Ali of Star FM and freelance journalist Abdirisak Omar Ahmed at a coffee shop in Mogadishu on Thursday. Abukar Mohamed Ali was released on Friday without charges and freelance journalist Abdirisak Omar Ahmed remains in NISA custody on the third day without being brought before courts of law.
NUSOJ strongly condemns the arbitrary arrests, intimidation and acts of oppression by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and calls for the unconditional release of Abdirisak Omar Ahmed.
“We strongly condemn in the strongest terms possible the arbitrary arrests against the media workers which are acts of intimidations.†Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, “We call on the unconditional release Abdirisak Omar Ahmed.â€
Last week, the Director of National Security and Intelligence Agency (NISA), Gen. Tuuryare ordered the seizure of journalist equipments who were covering a conference on the elections 2016 in Mogadishu. The videos and the audio in the journalists’ equipment were completely erased by the NISA, in a blatant obstruction on the right to freedom of expression.