The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns the arrest of the editor in chief of Xog Ogaal newspaper Mr Abdi Aden Guuleed (Caanogeel) and the shut down of main office of the paper in Mogadishu on Saturday evening 15th October 2016.

According to Mohamed Mohamud Aden the Manager of Xog Ogaal newspaper who talked on the phone to NUSOJ , members from Somalia National Inelegancy Agency raided to their office in Mogadishu, stormed the building and confiscated all equipment and stuff of the paper before arresting Abdi Aden Guled, the editor in chief of Xog Ogaal Newspaper.

"We don’t know yet why Abdi was arrested and where he was taken to " Mohamud Added.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) demand from the Somali government for the unconditional release of Xog Ogaal newspaper editor and calls for respect to media freedoms

"We demand the unconditional release of our colleague.” Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, NUSOJ Secretary General said, "Its sad that media workers are often intimidated with arbitrary arrests to undermine the free reporting.”

"We call for Somali authority to respect the media freedoms and the freedom of expression, enshrined by the Federal Constitution of Somalia and international treaties on freedom of expression.” Mr. Moalimuu added.

Xog Ogaal paper is one of the few longest operating newspaper in Mogadishu since the collapse of former Somalia central government in 1991 and it was recently celebrated the 26th anniversary of its establishment.

National Union of Somali journalists (NUSOJ) have been chasing since yesterday evening to get details and the cause of the arrest from NISA senior officials but unfortunately unable to reach them so far.

NUSOJ has a lot of concern over limitations of freedom expression and fair reporting to the electoral process during Somalia’s ongoing elections therefore we, call upon Somali government leaders, heads of regional states, national security agencies and presidential candidates to respect and guarantee freedom of expression, freedom of media.

This is a crucial time for the Somali people and we encourage all Somali media to behave responsibly and remain honest and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information

General Secretary of National Union of Somali Journalists
Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu
Nusoj@nusoj.org.so
Moalimuu@nusoj.org.so
moalimuu@gmail.com
+252615540001
+254619308345