HARGEISA–According to a press statement issued by the Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA), it was officially confirmed on Monday that reporter Ahmed Zaki, who was present at the Warrame Media Center which he manages, was reportedly forcibly removed from the premises at around 11 pm last night. This information was confirmed by eye-witnesses who were present during the incident. Members of SOLJA visited the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Central Police Station, where they confirmed that the reporter was not being detained. SOLJA stated that there are no allegations against him as far as they are aware. The statement from SOLJA also mentioned that they contacted security agencies in Somaliland, specifically the police, and confirmed that he is not in police custody, and has not been detained. SOLJA expressed extreme concern about the whereabouts of the reporter and the reasons for his arrest. There are reports stating that he is being held at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), but SOLJA cannot independently verify this information. The association strongly condemns the illegal apprehension of the journalist, who is a member of the independent press. Such actions undermine the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the trust of the community. SOLJA calls on the individuals holding the journalist to clarify the reasons for his arrest and demands his immediate release in order to secure his freedom. They also urge those holding him to protect the freedom of speech and press, as guaranteed by the country’s constitution. SOLJA stands for the defense of journalists’ rights and the protection of independent media. They strive to secure the reporter’s freedom while he is in detention. On Monday, Somaliland’s opposition party, Kulmiye, condemned the illegal arrest of journalist Ahmed Ibrahim, also known as Ahmed Zaki. He is the 40th journalist to be arrested by the current Somaliland government, which has been in power for a year. The opposition party stated that arresting members of the press without following legal channels is a serious violation of the constitution and the press law. They also revealed that the current government has arrested over 40 journalists, which is seen as an attempt to silence the media and suppress freedom of the press, which goes against the freedom of speech guaranteed by the constitution. The party calls on the government to immediately release journalist Ahmed Zaki without any conditions and to refrain from illegally detaining journalists, which goes against the country’s laws.
