The Somali Islamist rebel group Al-Shabab has shut down two independent radio stations in the city of Baidoa, about 247 kilometers north-west of the capital Mogadishu.
In a communiqué the Al-Shabab administration in Baidoa ordered the closure of the only two independent radio stations in the city ; Jubba Radio and Radio Warsan, although the militants did not disclose why the stations were silenced.
“From 7am local time on Wednesday, the two stations must be closed” the communiqué said. Al-Shabab did not however say for how long the stations will remain closed, but only confirmed that the stations will be off air until an unspecified later date.
“We all depend on the stations for daily programs and news from around the world, but today we are like deaf because we do not know what is happening inside Somalia or in the entire world” a resident in Baidoa who demanded anonymity for security reasons told APA by telephone.
The president of the Somali Sports Journalists Association which lobbies for better rights of journalists in the lawless country condemned the move and demanded the immediate reopening of the media outlets.
“We are totally denouncing the undemocratic step by the militants and we are calling on them to unconditionally let the independent stations resume their work soon,” Abdi Aziz Godah Barre said in a statement on Wednesday.
Last month, Al Shabab militants arrested Radio Warsan director Hilal Sheikh Shueib after his radio station was accused of airing more music and songs, instead of Quranic verses. More than 24 hours later he was released.
Since January this year, at least six prominent journalists have been killed in the troubled south-central Somali regions mainly in the restive capital Mogadishu while dozens more were jailed in different regions in the country.
Somalia is said to be the second most dangerous country in the world after Iraq where journalists are abducted, tortured or even killed by all sides involved in the country’s long-running violence.
Source African Press Agency
