The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) views with consternation and indignation the decision of Hibin and Heb administration in Adado town of Galgudud region in central Somalia to shut down a private radio station namely Al-Ihsan Radio.
According to information from Adado, privately owned Al-Ihsan radio station was shut down after a four-wheel drive vehicle with armed men from Hibin and Heb administration delivered a handwritten letter signed by Mohamed Adan, head of the Hibin and Heb administration, at around 12hours local time on Saturday, 2 March, and ordered the radio station to shutdown.
Al-Ihsan radio reportedly broadcasted programmes on pirates, alleged corruption and mismanagement within administration, alleged misuse of Adado hospital equipment and operations carried out by the administration against pirates, according to the management of the radio station. But Hibin and Heb administration blamed the radio station for compromising the peace in the town and spreading inaccurate and unacceptable information which is contrary to the policy of the administration.
“We condemn this disruptive and inexplicable act which is nothing short of an attempt to suppress media freedom in the region and demand that Al-Ihsan Radio be allowed to resume broadcast immediately.”
Al-Ihsan radio has been operating in Adado for nearly two years and has been mostly broadcasting religious programmes but also news and information. It is the first radio station established in Adado.
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