Somalia: Puntland Presidency hosts ex-Media Boss

GALKAYO, Somalia-Puntland Presidency has invited controversial former Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) Omar Faruk Osman to hold meetings in Galkayo, Garowe Online reports. 

Media Association of Puntland (MAP) and NUSOJ vented anger at the politically-motivated plot, prompting later for a joint committee drawn from the two media fraternities to protest to Puntland Presidency regarding their reservations.  

Sources who attended the meeting with presidential aides said, they were openly told that Osman had arrived at presidential invitation.  

Puntland Security Ministry directive banning ex-media leader from holding meeting with Puntland State TV staff, Radio Galkayo journalists and President’s Press Service was defied, complained press stakeholders.  

MAP Chairman railed against Osman’s flagrant interest in Somali media leadership, and recalled that Somali journalists united behind Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu during May congress in Mogadishu.  

The move to invite Omar Faruk for Galkayo gatherings coincides with heightening tension between Puntland government and the press over the former’s muzzling of the freedom of media.

GAROWEONLINE