Police from the semi-autonomous republic of Somaliland detained two journalists without charge on September 13, 2012, and released them four days later, according to local journalists.
Police arrested Hashim Sheikh Omar and Mursal Elmi for interviewing local residents in the northwestern town of Borama about the appointment of a new prime minister in the republic of Somalia, local journalists told CPJ. The government considers Borama a center of opposition since the former president comes from the town, local journalists said.
Hashim works as a correspondent for the Nairobi-based U.N.-backed radio station Bar-Kulan and the private U.K.-based Somalisat broadcaster, local journalists said. Mursal is a reporter for local broadcaster Bulsho TV and the news website Xariiradnews, the sources said.