Somalia: Puntland Govt orders FM stations not to broadcast Radio Mogadishu

GAROWE, Somalia, September 17, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Puntland Government in northern Somalia has banned FM stations from broadcasting state-run, Radio Mogadishu programmes as media censorship continues to grow rife, Garowe Online reports.

In a decree issued by Puntland Information Minister Mohamud Hassan So’adde, the government has ordered private broadcasters not to rebroadcast Somali National Radio that airs programmes daily from volatile Mogadishu.

Puntland alleged that Radio Mogadishu is a malice and threat to regional stability and peaceful communities.

Having encompassed directives, the decree asked security agencies to ensure implementation of the order.

Any station that defies the ban will face revocation of accreditation and licenses, the Information Minister threatened.

A letter dated September 20, 2014 but leaked to Garowe Online sought the blocking of six news sites from inside the northeastern state.

On December 11,2014,  Reporters Without Borders said, it is worried about the freedom of information in Puntland.

On August 17 this year, a court in the state capital of Garowe cleared Sahan Radio of alleged slander in a case lodged by Puntland Information Ministry.

Of 180 countries, Somalia was ranked 176^th in the 2014 Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. 

GAROWE ONLINE