Associated Somali Journalists is worried about the restriction imposed by Galmudug State Minster for Interior Ministry Omar Mohamed Diriye ordering that local media outlets and journalists can’t report on political gatherings and meetings in Adado without permission from Galmudug Presidential office.

Journalists are impartial, and they convey the public the realities in the respective environment they live in, in accordance with the ethics of journalism and other existing laws enshrined by our provisional constitution.

Article 18 of Somalia constitution guarantees freedom of speech and media and it says "Every person has the right to have and express their opinions and to receive and impart their opinion, information and ideas in any way”.

Therefore, we call on Galmudug Interior Ministry to respect the independence of media and lift the ban it imposed. 

"Local media usually covers all information that the regional state sends to the public and would like to he heard, similarly local authority should allow the media to cover other opinion however they may not like them, as it is freedom of speech and should respect other opinions” Dahir Alasow Asoj Spokes man  said on Wedsday.

ASOJ finally hopes will review its decision and allow all Media to resume their daily activities in a democratic way. On the other hand, ASOJ exhorts journalists in Adado, Central Somalia to always remain impartial with balanced multiplicity of perspectives.