The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has expressed concern over the arrest and detention of two Somali journalists.
The arrest of Awil Dahir Salad and Abdullahi Hersi of the London-based private Universal Television last week has raised alarms among press watchdogs and human rights organizations.
Ambassador Kay reminded the Somalia Federal government authorities of their duty to uphold Freedom of Press.
‘’Concerned by arrest of #UniversalTV staff Awil Dahir and Abdullahi Hersi. #Somalia needs its free media now & during 2016 electoral process,’’ he said in a twitter message on his account.
Press watchdogs condemned the arrests and called for the journalists’ immediate release.
Somalia government officials have accused the Television of airing a biased political program in which two members of the Federal Parliament claimed the government is not independent.
Horseed Media
UN Envoy ‘concerned’ about arrests of Journalists in Somalia
Published: October 5, 2015
