(15-08-23) HARGEISA – A female journalist, Bushaaro Baanday, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment by a Hargeisa court on Tuesday. The charges stemmed from allegations of disseminating false information on social media platforms.
A local MP was quoted as saying that the sentence accounts for the three months Baanday had already spent in detention since her arrest on 15 May.
Since her detention, international press freedom watchdogs have vocally advocated for Baanday’s release, citing concerns over media freedom in the region. This latest case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by journalists operating in Somaliland over freedom of expression and the role of the press.
