Kalsan TV banned in Somaliland

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) urged Somaliland authorities to reconsider its decision to ban the privately-owned television network, while stressing the importance of ensuring media freedom in Somaliland following the reshuffle of the cabinet.

The officially stated motive of the ban is "lack of license" to operate in Somaliland, but the management of Kalsan TV and journalists in Somaliland believe that the ban was prompted by a TV debate which was recently broadcasted by Kalsan TV. Somaliland officials, who reportedly knew when the said political debate was recorded, warned the station not to broadcast this debate but it did.

According to media reports, Somaliland officials repeatedly expressed their irritation concerning words used by Kalsan TV presenters who call Somaliland as "Somaliland administration" instead of calling it "Somaliland government".

"We urge the authorities in Somaliland to fully respect its commitment to media freedom and to revise the decision against Kalsan TV quickly," said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ secretary general.