Ahlu-Sunna Waljama’a fighters raid, shut down radio stations

Fighters loyal to Somalia’s moderate Islamist group, Ahlu-Sunna waljam’a raided the premises of Radio Galgaduud in Guricel and Star Fm and closed their doors on Friday.

Two stations in Dhusa-Mareeb and Guri-Eel towns were reportedly raided by the fighters in early Friday.

Abdifatah Hassan farah Radio Galgaduud director told Goobjoog News that the fighters entered the station and ordered the staff to shut down.

“We asked them to show us warrant letters while they were outside the station but they broke into and switched the station forcefully” Abdifatah said.

Earlier this month the group detained six journalists after Ahlu-Sunna Waljama’a called the journalists in Dhusamareb the media and the journalists to register by providing questionnaire forms for the purpose of collecting the personal data from the journalists, which the journalists questioned the security of the information they provide citing privacy issues, which the group responded with mass arrests.

On May 18, 2015, the Ahlu Sunna administration in the town of Guriel in Central Somalia raided the premises of Radio Galgaduud in Guricel and closed its doors and briefly arrested the stations deputy director Abdulkadir Gure Barre after the radio station refused to comply draconian orders imposed by the group. Radio Galgaduud was allowed to resume operation after more than a week the radio was off air. Meanwhile the administration detained Osman Mohamed Adan, correspondent of the Somali National Television (SNTV) based in Guriel, for 24 hours and and ordered his immediate deportation.

Ahlu-Sunna Waljama’a who controls part Galgaduud region has been engaging gun battle with Somali government forces in a bid to extend its ruling areas.

The group took control of Dhusa-Mareb town which is the designated capital of newly formed Galmudug state temporarily operating in Adado town