Two local journalists arrested in the city of Jigjiga in the Ogaden region have been released after being held under detention for the past 24 hours.
Mahad Ali, a freelance journalist and cameraman for Universal TV and Barre Ali of Saab TV where briefly detained in the early hours of Monday and whisked away to the local city jail.
Both men where brought before a judge this morning and accused of working as journalists in the Somali region (Ogaden) without properly registering with the local authorities.
Mahad and Barre where released shortly after being arraigned at court. It’s not clear what the conditions of there release exactly where or if they’re yet to register with local authorities.
The arrests of these journalists coincides with regional authorities in the Ogaden implementing totalitarian measures in many parts of the region and carrying outright abuses.
There are currently 14 mainstream Somali news agencies operating in the Ogaden, in which the majority began there operations post 2018.
For the most part of the last three decades, the Ogaden region has been cut off from the world, which included a total media blackout to cover up Ethiopia’s atrocities in the Ogaden.
The media landscape in the Ogaden has improved over the past three years but still has a long way to go as journalists and civilians alike often face repercussions for speaking out.
Halgan Media Service Desk
