A Somali journalist was ordered by an Al Shabab court to leave the port city of Kismayo within 36 hours on Monday, local sources told IPI today.

Mohamed Salad Abdulle, a reporter with Bardera-based Markabley Radio and other Somali broadcasters, including Somaliweyn radio, was detained in Kismayo on 15 March, IPI reported at the time. The stringer was arrested by the Islamist, self-appointed Al Shabab ruling body after broadcasting a meeting of Hizbul Islam, a rival Islamist militia.

On Monday, the Harakat Al Shabab Mujahideen court released Abdulle but said he must leave Kismayo within 36 hours.

“I feel threatened to my life, I have survived many attempts of assassination. I don’t think that the Shabab are leaving me alone with only court sentence on deportation.” Abdulle reportedly told National Union of Somali Journalists coordinator Mohamed Ibrahim.

Mohamed Abdikarim, who also reports for Markabley Radio, was detained on the same day as Abdulle in Baladhawo town. Al Shabab members arrested Abdikarim after he aired a recording of local elders that referred to the Somali government. Abdikarim was released with a warning on Saturday, 20 March, Ibrahim told IPI.

“We welcome the release of Mohamed Salad Abdulle and Mohamed Abdikarim, but condemn the Al Shabab administration’s expulsion of Abdulle from Kismayo, where he works,” IPI Director David Dadge said. “Since taking control of several regions in Somalia, Al Shabab has imposed increasing restrictions on the media. By forbidding Abdulle from working in Kismayo, Al Shabab is further demonstrating its contempt for the free flow of information in Somalia.”

Markabley Radio, which had voluntarily ceased operations after the arrest of Abdulle, Abdikarim and the overnight detention of station director Ahmed Omar Salihi, resumed operations on Sunday following talks with the Shabab administration in Bardera, NUSOJ reported.