Cabays Media:-

On Wednesday, journalist Ahmed Muse Sakaaro who based in Somaliland’s second largest city, Burco was attacked by two men armed with clubs and swords.

The young freelance reporter said few days before he was attacked he received death threats via text messages and unidentified assailants attacked him when he came out of a printing house in Burco.

“Two men armed with clubs and swords attacked me soon after I came out from Haldoor Printing House and they beat me on the head and in the face, and they snatched my bank book, a laptop and recording device and all the staff  I was carrying with” Said Ahmed Sakaaro who suffers head injuries and cuts to his face.

“The men attacked me quickly escaped with a car that picked them up ” added the battered journalist Ahmed Sakaaro who did not recognized his attackers but suspects who could be behind his attack.

“I suspect that the attackers were sent by the Mayor Muraad (Burco city mayor), they kept sending me threats by saying you are reporting about the mayor and for that reason I was threaten with beatings and even death” Said Ahmed Sakaaro who also said he will not stop about reporting the local officials wrongdoings despite of the threats journalists face these days.

When Ahmed Sakaaro received death threats via text messages he said he reported to Burco police but nothing was done about it and the police have no firm leads about the identity of his assailants.

It is not clear whether the police will pursue the attackers but journalist attacks and arrests are worriedly increasing in Somaliland since president Siilaanyo came to power some five years ago.

This is the first time though a journalist is attacked in a daylight in Burco city and the people find the incident as shocking.

Somaliland journalist associations demand journalist protection and the arrest of the Ahmed Sakaaro’s attackers suspected for organised by members of the local officials who often agitated by local journalists reporting on corruption and nepotism that affect public services in Somaliland.

Burco city is among the Somaliland cities where journalists often face arrests and harassments when they report about burning issues the public are so concerned.

Since Kulmiye party’s leader, Ahmed Siilaanyo has came to power more than 150 journalists were arrests over the last five years and two media outlets were closed down after they were accused of smearing the president and his family members who are reported of involving in corruption, embezzlement and nepotism.

Ahmed Sakaaro vowed to continue his work as journalist. “We will not give in to those threatening us with beating and death and we will continue to serve our people by bringing all the wrongdoers to light” Said Ahmed Sakaaro who suffers dizziness after sustaining head juries during the attack on Wednesday.

Cabays Media tried to contact Burco police and local authorities for comment but no avail.

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