LONDON (SD) -Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the decision by the Puntland authorities to deport journalist Jamaal Osman and a producer from Channel 4 international television.

RSF stated that the two journalists were taken into custody in Puntland to produce reports on the situation in the Red Sea.

Jamal Osman and the Channel 4 crew were detained upon their arrival at Garowe airport on February 18 and were deported back to the UK the following morning, despite having valid visas dated February 15, issued by the Puntland Minister of Information.

Jamal Osman stated shortly after being detained that they were taken to a hotel controlled by the Puntland Intelligence and Security Agency (PISA). They were later taken to the PISA office where they were interrogated for nearly three hours.

Similarly, Journalist Jamal Osman was deported from Mogadishu at the end of 2022 after being detained there for a day.