- The mayor of Mogadishu Mohamed Omar Habeb has been grilled for decreeing what media rights watchdogs referred to as "unacceptable and ridiculous draconian restictions" on the coverage of fighting between the government forces and rebels.
Since the ousting of the Islamic Courts Unions from power in December, Somalia has been in a state of anarchy. This claimed the lives of thousands as well as displaced a million people.
A few journalists still remain in Mogadishu today mainly because of targeted murders. This year alone eight journalists have been murdered by gunmen.
But the Mogadishu mayor, a former warlord and governor of the central city of Jowhar, is unnecessarily making life unbearable for the few journalists. Habeb on Monday decreed the banning on reporting "military operations by the federal transitional government and Ethiopian troops without the written agreement" of the authorities.
He has also embargoed interviews with government opponents inside the country or abroad. Violators of the decree will be treated as criminals.
“The rules decreed by Muhamed Omar Habeb are ridiculous, especially as they have no legal basis,” the Africa Director of the Paris-based Reporters sans frontières, Leonard Vincent, reacted.
“A city in which the most popular news media have been closed arbitrarily, dozens of journalists flee each week and those that stay risk being arrested or murdered needs a mayor who offers safeguards and who is open to dialogue. Instead it has one who imposes the rule of martial law.”
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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