The Doha Centre for Media Freedom has condemned the closure of two independent radio stations in the central Somali town of Baidoa.
The Shebab and allied hardline rebels, who control large parts of the country, have ordered the staff of Warsan and Juba radio stations “to completely stop broadcasting until further notice”, according to a press release issued by the Doha centre.
The privately-owned radio stations, both based in Baidoa, 250km northwest of Mogadishu, went off the air on Wednesday.
This is not the first time the rebels had shut down radio stations and imposed restrictions on other media outlets. In April 2009, the Doha centre called on the international community to demand action on human rights and media freedom from the Somali authorities after the Islamist Shebab rebels arrested three journalists from Radio Jubba and blocked broadcasts.
Somalia is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists. Six journalists have been killed so far this year.