The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the recent raid by government forces on the offices of the Waayaha private newspaper in what was suspected to be an attempt to confiscate their equipment and prevent the journalists from covering military operations in the neighborhood.
“It is unacceptable for government forces to behave like bandits,” said Gabriel Baglo, Director of IFJ Africa office. “We condemn this move and call on the Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to take urgent action to ensure the journalists’ equipment is returned and they can work in total safety.”
According to the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) on Tuesday, TFG security forces who were conducting security operation in Bakara market, went into Waayaha’s nearby offices and searched them. The soldiers took 5 digital cameras and 3 mobile phones and threatened to kill the journalists if they tried to take back their equipments.
It is suspected that the government forces wanted to intimidate the journalists and take their equipment so that they would not be able to cover the ongoing operations in the market.
“Journalists are not combatants, and government leaders must end brutalities of the security forces against media companies and their people,” said Omar Faruk Osman, Secretary General of NUSOJ.
For further information contact the IFJ: +221 33 842 01 43
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries
“It is unacceptable for government forces to behave like bandits,” said Gabriel Baglo, Director of IFJ Africa office. “We condemn this move and call on the Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to take urgent action to ensure the journalists’ equipment is returned and they can work in total safety.”
According to the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) on Tuesday, TFG security forces who were conducting security operation in Bakara market, went into Waayaha’s nearby offices and searched them. The soldiers took 5 digital cameras and 3 mobile phones and threatened to kill the journalists if they tried to take back their equipments.
It is suspected that the government forces wanted to intimidate the journalists and take their equipment so that they would not be able to cover the ongoing operations in the market.
“Journalists are not combatants, and government leaders must end brutalities of the security forces against media companies and their people,” said Omar Faruk Osman, Secretary General of NUSOJ.
For further information contact the IFJ: +221 33 842 01 43
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries