SOMALIA: Government orders shutdown of four radio and television networks in Mogadishu

Record ID: 783932

  • Title: SOMALIA: Government orders shutdown of four radio and television networks in Mogadishu
  • Date: 16th January 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE)(English) HORNAFRIK PRODUCER, MAHAD AHMED ELMI SAYING: "Many journalists were really scared about acts against journalists here, at this time we have been trying to get, really, enough freedom."
  • Embargoed: 31st January 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Somalia
  • Country: Somalia
  • Topics: Communications
  • Reuters ID: LVADCAZMKEP0E0EWQX3I0RCWALXN
  • Story Text: The Somali government on Monday (January 15) ordered four major radio and television networks in Mogadishu to shut down operations and appear before the national security agency, a letter sent to the media outlets said.
    The letter was sent to HornAfrik Media, Shabelle Media Network, the Koranic radio station IQK and the local office of Al Jazeera television.
    Iman Ali Sharmarke, managing partner of HornAfrik media, told Reuters that the instruction to close came in a letter. "HornAfrik Media has received a letter at about 1.30pm this afternoon, and that letter gave instructions the station to be closed immediately as the letter was delivered. The letter came from National Security Agency Office. The letter just said any explanation why the station has to be closed among other stations. We decided to do so immediately," he said
    Government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari declined to confirm the shutdown, or whether it was carried out under sweeping emergency powers the parliament voted to give President Abdullahi Yusuf on Saturday (January 13) to help impose order.
    "We have been operating seven years and we thought its about time to relax," added Ali Sharmarke, referring to the peace and freedom expected when the government took over the chaotic capital Mogadishu from Islamic Courts militia.
    Managers at HornAfrik and Shabelle both confirmed they had received the letter and had either shut down or would do so shortly. Al Jazeera in Mogadishu and IQK could not immediately be reached for comment.
    At HornAfrik staff shut down the studios and left in a perplexed state, some bemoaning the closure.
    "Its not so good what happened today because we are worried about it," said one staffer as they left.
    There has been an increase in violence in the capital, Mogadishu since the government took over with the backing of Ethiopian soldiers. However the recent attacks in the capital against Ethiopian troops and Somali security personnel has heightened tension on the streets and not even media persons have been spared.
    "Many journalists were really scared about acts against journalists here, at this time we have been trying to get, really, enough freedom," said HornAfrik producer Mahad Ahmed Elmi.
    The government recently asked for the emergency law to help it bring the Horn of Africa nation of 10 million under control, after its soldiers with Ethiopian backing in late December routed Islamists who had taken over much of southern Somalia.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register