Mogadishu (Sunatimes) Al-shabab fighters seized Horn Afrik TV and radio stations in Mogadishu. The fighters took over the media house early on Sunday morning.

They attacked the media house at around 02:00 hours ordering the guards to open the studios.

The militias also took away some of the transmission and broadcasting equipment. Music and other program archives were also seized by the militiamen.

For security reasons, Horn Afrik media had earlier relocated its offices and studios from Mogadishu’s Gubta area to the Bakaraha market. It was also among the media houses in Mogadishu ordered to stop playing music as well as the re-broadcasting of BBC and VOA news and programs.

In the past, two directors and a journalist working for Horn Afrik have been killed by gunmen.

Elsewhere, Hizbul-islam militias invaded Global Broadcasting Cooperation radio and TV stations studios in Mogadishu and took them over late yesterday. The militias are now in full control of GBC’s facilities, which are located near X-control road.

Al-shabab and Hizbul-islam remain the main threat and violators of media freedom in Somalia. The groups recently took over the Holy Koran radio and Somaliweyn stations.

By Bar Kulan