26 Nov 09 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout and Australian photographer Nigel Brennan have been released after being held captive by militants for 15 months. Reports state that the pair were freed after a ransom of $1m was paid. The two journalists were held in solitary confinement after being kidnapped on 23 August 2008 and were subject to beatings and torture.
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03 Nov 09 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
War photographer and AFP stringer, Mohamed Dahir and Mohamoud Muktar Koofi, a Universal TV cameraman, were arrested and detained for 48 hours on 28 October after they were seen photographing African Union tanks firing at Bakara Market, Mogadishu. The journalists, arrested by Government police, were held at the presidential palace, Villa Somalia. Their cameras were seized and the images erased.
25 Aug 09 | Index Index, minipost
The National Union of Somali Journalists has expressed its outrage at the continued suppression of media rights in the Gedo region by the Islamist group Al-Shabaab. The NUSJ report detailed how Radio Markabley was ordered to fire two of its journalists for writing “biased reports” and was issued with a seven-point decree by the group. The decree accuses the station of being “too neutral regarding holy war” and instructs them to stop broadcasting any secular songs or use any musical programs, interviews, advertisements or news content. Read more here
08 Jun 09 | Index Index, minipost
Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe, director of Radio Shabelle was shot in the head four times by three armed men on his way to work in the capital Mogadishu. This is the third fatal attack on the radio station staff in 2009. Read more here
