The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) has learnt with relief and satisfaction that Somali journalist Abdi Adan Guled, has been released after spending four days in detention.
Guled, who is the Editor-in-Chief of Xog Ogaal Daily newspaper and Vice President of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), a member organization of AFEX, was arrested by agents of Somali’s national security apparatus on October 15, 2016.
We join our member NUSOJ to welcome the freeing of the journalist and the release of the seized equipment. But we remain appalled by his unjustified arrest in the first place. We also deplore the unreasonable period he endured in detention.
NUSOJ Secretary General Omar Faruk Osman, emphasized that Guled “committed no crime and his imprisonment was entirely unjust.”
AFEX also believes the arrest and detention of the journalist without any charges was a flagrant violation his basic human rights and an act of intimidation and censorship.
We join NUSOJ to congratulate Abdi Adan Guled for his stoic resistance of this unwarranted assault on his personal liberty.
Finally, we urge the Somali government restrain the NISA and all other state security agencies from the repeated attacks against media organisations and professionals.