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Tag: Puntland

  • Reporter Jamal Osman arrested in Puntland on allegations of spreading al-shabab propaganda

    Reporter Jamal Osman arrested in Puntland on allegations of spreading al-shabab propaganda

    Private news site Puntland Post, have reported that security forces in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland region apprehended Jamal Osman, a journalist for British broadcaster Channel 4, accusing him of disseminating al-Shabab propaganda.

    Osman, a recipient of the Rory Peck award in 2022 for his feature on al-Shabab, was arrested upon his arrival in the regional capital Garowe, the report stated.

    The website mentioned that security sources confirmed Osman’s detention in Garowe, where he was being questioned by Puntland intelligence officials.

    While Channel 4 and Puntland authorities have not provided comments on the incident, sources informed the BBC that Osman is expected to be deported later on Monday.

    This is not the first time Osman has faced such circumstances. In 2022, he was briefly detained in Mogadishu after landing at the city’s airport.

    Osman has been reporting on al-Shabab, piracy in the Horn of Africa, and Somalia’s instability since 2008, contributing to Channel 4’s coverage. His investigative report “Inside al-Shabab,” aired in 2022, drew the Somali government’s criticism for allegedly promoting the group’s ideologies.

    In 2019, Osman also reported for the BBC following a deadly al-Shabab attack on a hotel in southern Somalia.

  • Somalia’s Puntland president Said Deni reelected

    Somalia’s Puntland president Said Deni reelected

    President Said Abdullahi Deni has been chosen again as the leader of Puntland, a part of Somalia, after having arguments about the election for many months.

    He got 45 votes from Puntland’s parliament members on Monday and was voted back.

    Guled Salah Barre got 21 votes, and Abshir Omar Jama came in third place.

    Mr Deni was quickly inaugurated for his second time in office.

    In Puntland, like in the rest of Somalia, elections are held in a different way. The clan elders choose the MPs and then the MPs choose the president.

    The vote happened after there were arguments and fights, and some people got hurt or killed.

    In Garowe last year, 26 people died in fights between Mr. Deni’s supporters and the opposition. The fights were because of a plan to have a vote, but that plan is not happening now.