Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

12 June 2007

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced satisfaction at the transitional federal government’s decision to allow three privately-owned radio stations - HornAfrik, Shabelle and Quran Karim (Holy Koran) - to resume broadcasting on 10 June 2007, four days after it ordered them to suspend operations.

"This decision was to be expected, as the high-handed fashion in which the stations were closed was both abusive and counter-productive," the press freedom organisation said. "We hope the transitional government will in future use methods other than blind repression to make its grievances known."

On 10 June, Information Minister Madobe Nounow Mohamuda summoned the heads of the three radio stations to inform them that they were authorised to resume broadcasts. The move was reportedly the result of pressure from the US government, whose ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger, interceded with the president to get the suspension lifted.

According to local journalists, Ranneberger argued that it could jeopardise the outcome of a national reconciliation conference due to be held in mid-June in Mogadishu.

For further information, contact Léonard Vincent at RSF, 5, rue Geoffroy
Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51,
e-mail: africa rsf.org, Internet: http://www.rsf.org