Mogadishu (SD) – Somali Journalists Association (SJS) has issued a press release condemning the arrest of journalists in Sool and Sanag regions by Somaliland authorities.

“Arresting journalists on duty and holding them without charges, with the aim to silence independent coverage, is against both the Somaliland and the Federal Provisional Constitutions. This does not only constitute violation to their right to freedom of expression but also is a violation against their human rights,” Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) said

Somali Cable TV journalist, Khadar Mohamed Tarabi and Khadar Rigah Ahmed, of Universal TV, were arrested in Las Anod while covering public demonstrations during the Djibouti Conference, on Tuesday 16 June 2020.

Horyaal24 TV journalist Jabir Said Duale was arrest on the same day by the Sanag regional authorities for covering similar event in Erigavo.

“We call on the Somaliland authorities to uphold the right to access to information and allow the journalists to freely exercise their profession without fear or repression.” Said SJS.

Ironically, Somaliland authorities illegally and unconstitutionally arrest of journalist comes at a week were Somaliland demanded the world respect international rule of law by respecting its sovereignty.