Somali journalist detained in undisclosed location without charges

Authorities have not released any information about where Aden is being held or what charges may be levied against him, a friend told KON, adding that his family has not been allowed to see him at the jail.

News Keydmedia Online
11 January 2021

GAROWE, Puntland – A freelance Somali journalist Kilwe Aden still remains detained in an unknown location in the country’s northeastern Puntland state for the second consecutive week without charges.

According to his media colleagues, Aden has been arrested by the regional police in Garowe town on December 27, 2020, along with Horn Cable reporter Farah Mohamed, who was released two days later.

The arrest follows a day after the freelancer covered a protest in Garowe over high inflation rates and depreciation of the Somali shilling against the dollar in Puntland on his Facebook page on 26 December.

Authorities have not released any information about where Aden is being held or what charges may be levied against him, a friend told KON, adding that his family has not been allowed to see him at the jail.

Journalists' rights groups have expressed concern over the condition of journalist Kilwe, who is still being held by Puntland police in an undisclosed location, and there are fears of torture and other ill-treatment.

Puntland is one of the areas in Somalia, where freedom of the press is blatantly violated, with many journalists arrested in 2020 and media outlets closed for covering the region’s crisis.

KON English News Desk