Somaliland bans local TV debate, citing immorality and anti-culture

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Somaliland bans local TV debate, citing immorality and anti-culture

HARGEISA (HORN OBSERVER) – The ministry of information in Somaliland has issued a prohibition on a television debate hosted by Universal TV in Hargeisa, citing reasons of "immorality and anti-cultural," according to a statement releas

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A screen grab taken from Youtube/ Universal TV.

HARGEISA (HORN OBSERVER) – The ministry of information in Somaliland has issued a prohibition on a television debate hosted by Universal TV in Hargeisa, citing reasons of "immorality and anti-cultural," according to a statement released on Wednesday and signed by Ali Hassan Mohamed, the Minister of Information, Culture, and National Guidance.

The ministry, in a statement released on Wednesday states that Universal TV aired "television debates that are not in line with Somali culture and Islamic Sharia.”

The debate in question, which took place on December 26, centered around statements made by Somaliland politicians asserting a shared racial identity between the Isaaq (the dominant clan in Somaliland) and the Oromos of Ethiopia.

Some Isaaq participants objected to being ethnically associated with the Oromo.

Despite the nuanced nature of the discussion, the Somaliland Ministry of Information labeled it as "a project imported from outside with the intention to destroy the culture of the society.”

The ministry’s statement accused Universal TV of broadcasting content that goes "against morality, descent culture, good values, and against Islamic religion.”

In response to these allegations, the Minister of Information not only prohibited Universal TV from airing similar debates but also instructed the prosecutor’s office to fulfill its "legal duty” in taking action against the television network for disregarding previous orders and warnings.

Universal TV has not provided a formal response to the new directive. However, the network released a brief video in which one of the participants from the December 26 debate offered clarifications on some of the statements within the debate.

The contentious topic of Isaaq, a member within the Dir clans, aligning itself with the Oromo in Ethiopia, has sparked widespread debate in Somaliland.

This discourse gained prominence following recent violence in Laascaanood, where Dhulbahante fighters, part of the Daarood clan, clashed with Somaliland forces of the Isaaq, attracting militia groups from the Daarood clan to join the conflict.

In the meantime, Somaliland officials have recently received Oromo elders during a visit to Hargeisa in which they also had meeting with local clan leaders.

After the August 25th fight that led to the defeat of Somaliland, Laascaanood proclaimed itself as a new regional administration under SSC-Khatumo.