By: Yusuf M Hasan
ERIGAVO (Somalilandsun) – The Puntland authorities have released a Somaliland journalist whom they had abducted earlier in the day.
appointed governor of Badan Region in the East of the country has abducted a Somaliland journalist.
Journalist Abdinasir Khalid Saeed who is the Somali TV channel stringer in Sanaag region who has just returned safely back to his Erigavo base after his release was abducted earlier in the day while on duty in Baran district by Puntland security forces.
According to our Sanaag regional reporter Mohamed Yusuf Bakayle the TV journalist was abducted by a police unit under the command of Puntland governor of Badan region Mohamed Salah Iyoon.
Badan is among districts in the east of Somaliland’s Sanaag region which the Somalia regional administration claims as part of its territory and together with Sool region form the basis for never ending bad blood between the Hargeisa and Garowe governments.
Contacted on the issue of the seizure of the correspondent, the secretary general of Somaliland Journalists Association-SOLJA Mr. Mohamed-Rashid opinioned that Puntland authorities fearful of their weaning support in Eastern Sanaag are intent on muzzling the press thus deny residents relevant Somaliland based information.
Though the journalist is now free and safe at home the reasons behind his abduction remain unknown and at the same time neither the Hargeisa nor Garowe based governments have issued an explanation on what armed Puntland security forces were doing in an area under the territorial jurisdiction of Somaliland.
