HARGEISA (SD) – The Somaliland government has released two journalists illegally jailed in Hargeisa for over three months, as efforts to release them and others intensified in recent days.

The two journalists Mohamed Abdi Sheikh (Ilig), he owner of MMTV and the head of news for HCTV Abdijibar Mohamed Hussein were released today after been found guilty of a bogus crime, a reoccurring travesty of Justice in Somaliland.

The two journalists were arrested on April 13, 2022 for reporting live on a recent violence inside a prison in Hargeisa between detainees and security forces.

The Marodi Jeh Regional Court on May 23, 2022, in a sham verdict, sentenced journalists Mohamed Ilig and Abdijibar Mohamed to one year and four months in prison each.

The journalists, who were released today, were being incarcerated in the same prison they were covering the riot at.

Other journalists still detained by the Muse Bihi administration include Abdimalik Muse Coldon, who was ordered released by a court, Hamsa Guelleh and Muhyadin Adan Ismail.

Authorities in Somaliland, in an unconstitutional move have been cracking down on journalists, arresting and torturing them for some time.