Two journalists sentenced to three years of jail term each, fined and Newspaper license revoked‏

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns in the strongest terms possible to the harsh sentence handed down to two journalists and newspaper license revoking in the Hargeysa regional Court on Wednesday morning, 25 June, 2014, around 7:00am local time, the latest in a string of violence against the journalists and media institutions in Somalia.

The regional court of Hargeysa sentenced Yusuf Abdi Gabobe, chairman of the Haatuf Media Network was is in custody and Ahmed Ali Igeh, chief editor of the network 3 years each and 50 Million Somaliland Shilings of fine which is equivalent to $8,000 US Dollars. The court also revoked the newspaper licenses, according to Mohamed Boosh, a journalist in Hargeysa

Ahmed Ali Igeh reportedly went into hiding following the court verdict on Wednesday morning, while Somaliland police arrested Yusuf Abdi Gabobe on 14 June, 2014.

According to local journalists in Hargeysa confirmed to NUSOJ that the journalists were not allowed to defend or their families were not notified for the court hearing to attend, making the worst crime against the media freedom and the freedom of expression in Somalia. Read Full Article

The President Got Blasted for Misleading Message

Muse Bihi Abdi, the Kulmiye Party Chairman

                                    
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Life in Worcester far different from homeland in Somaliland

WORCESTER — Nineteen-year-old Deqa Abdirahman Aden likes politics, and, after completing her studies in the United States, she said she would like to someday return home to Somaliland to run for public office.  However, raised in an African societal and religious culture that drastically limits opportunities for women, she recognizes that career option probably won't be available to her.  Only two women have ever risen to national ministerial posts in Somaliland, and Ms. Aden said there will probably never be a female president in her lifetime.

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Wrangle splits Somaliland Ruling Party as President Siilaanyo seeks re-election

HARGEISA, Somalia May 26, 2013 (Garowe Online)-Prominent figures within Somaliland Ruling Party of Kulmiye are at the loggerheads as President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Siilaanyo is seeking re-election ahead of the region's general elections by 2015, Garowe Online reports.

The magnitude of the dispute emerged after President Siilaanyo on Saturday sacked his Commerce Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Omar by presidential decree-a move related to wrangle over the next candidate for Somaliland presidency.

The Chairman of Kulmiye party Musse Bihi Abdi- army veteran who served as air force pilot in Siyad Barre regime in 1970s and the current Somaliland President disagreed on their candidacy, with Musse Bihi Abdi announcing that he would vie for the separatist administration's top political job.

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