Somalia’s Shabelle radio network raided; 19 staffers detained
New York, September 17, 2007—Members of the Somali Transitional National Government security forces raided the Radio Shabelle office in the capital, Mogadishu, Saturday morning and detained 19 staff members. The security forces accused the journalists of throwing a grenade at a police patrol, reported one of the detained staffers.
SOMALIA: Puntlandpost reporter released after five days
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 16, 2007 Original Alert: September 14, 2007 Mohamed Hussein Jimaale, Puntlandpost IMPRISONED Jimaale, a correspondent of the Puntland-based news Web site Puntlandpost, was freed without charges after the National Union of Somali Journalists negotiated his release, according to local journalists.
Somali government detains Mogadishu reporter covering security sweep
New York, September 14, 2007—Police have detained a journalist who was reporting on a security operation undertaken by Somalia’s Ethiopian-backed government in the capital, Mogadishu, according to the National Union of Somali Journalists and local news reports. Mohamed Hussein Jimaale, a correspondent of the Puntland-based news Web site Puntlandpost, was among some 70 people…
Gambian journalist still held despite receiving bail
New York, September 13, 2007—A prominent radio producer at the Gambia Radio and Television Services is still being held in jail despite being granted bail yesterday. Producer Malick Jones was charged with communicating to an unnamed foreign journalist sensitive information in violation of state security, a charge made under the Official Secret Act. Jones, along…
Rwandan officials threaten to force press to reveal sources
New York, September 11, 2007— Top officials accused Rwanda’s independent press on Sunday of undermining the government and threatened to force journalists to reveal their sources, according to local journalists. During a four-hour state television broadcast in the capital, Kigali, featuring a panel of government ministers and representatives from the security forces, Interior Minister Sheikh…
SOMALIA: Journalist beaten, robbed by police
September 6, 2007 Posted September 17, 2007 Abdi Rizak Warsame, Radio ShabelleATTACKED Warsame, a reporter of leading independent Radio Shabelle in the capital Mogadishu, was assaulted and robbed by two policemen from Somalia’s Ethiopian-backed transitional government on his way home from work, according to news reports and local journalists.
DRC: Rebels loot radio station’s broadcast equipment
New York, September 6, 2007—Community radio station Radio Colombe was raided by rebel soldiers on Saturday night in Rutshuru, north of Goma in the DRC, according to the station’s director, Hubert Furugupa. A group of armed men aligned with rebel general Laurent Nkunda kidnapped two reporters and stole radio equipment and a generator from the…
GABON: Intelligence agents question journalist over critical report
SEPTEMBER 4, 2007 Posted October 12, 2007 Nicaise Moulombi, Croissance Saine EnvironmentHARASSED Intelligence agents in the capital, Libreville, questioned Nicaise Moulombi, member of Gabon’s Council of the Republic and director of the private monthly Croissance Saine Environment, for two hours over a report in August alleging fraud in a public construction project, according to news…