Somalia: TV presenter banned from working as journalist in Puntland

Garowe – Puntland Information Ministry has banned news anchor and presenter working for UK-based Somali channel from hosting ‘Deparani show’, and journalism exercises for unexplained reasons on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

Jama Yusuf Jama posted a brief statement on his facebook page, noting that Information ministry complained of his ‘critical posts’ and Somali Channel Television programme, dubbed ‘Deparani Show’ on which he interviews politicians on prevailing political situation.

“[Puntland] Information Ministry threatened that it will issue order imposing ban on my work,” he facebooked, a day before controversial Information Minister, Mohamud Hassan So’adde has issued order revoking the famed anchorman of work accreditation.

Puntland government has asked Deparani to undergo extensive watch in advance of show broadcast, something he rebuffed to heed.

The government has increasingly grown intolerant of free speech and political criticism.

Puntland suspended VOA Somali Service reporting and banned FM stations from rebroadcasting its radio programmes on October 29.