(Barbaariye.com)- Breda-based investigative journalist who exposed malpractices, corruption by government officials and terrorism finances by private companies has received drawn an outpouring support from residents in Erigavo and Burao towns in the breakaway Somaliland region, late this week. Using social media, including the video search engine Youtube, Hundreds of people from all walks of life have voiced their support to the reporter who receives death threats directed at him by terrorist groups.

During their support rallies, supporters for the Somali journalist Dahir Alasow have criticized Dahabshiil Money Transfer company, shocking the company’s founder Mohamed Said Duale who has taken the report to courts in Netherlands, accusing him of defaming his Company’s image.

Outraged by the support to the report, the development has led to the resignation of Mohamed Yusuf, Dahabshiil’s manager in the Togdheer province, Barbaariye Media reported.

Burao is the birthplace of Dahabshiil Owner Mohamed Said Duale and where his sub-clan resides, it is a sensitive issue as no single Somali man defies the loyalty of his own clan. Mr. Duale responded hysterically about the case. He fears that he may lose the welfare and support of his own clan and clients as well.

"When the young people from Burao, Togdheer province poured their support to Dahir Alasow the company’s manager Mr. Yusuf was excoriated by the Dahabshiil’s CEO and then Mr. Yusuf determined to quit his job since he could not prevent this protest,” said Liiban Musa Odowaa, a businessman in Buroa.

Mr. Alasow’s supporters called on Dahabshiil Company to respect the freedom of the press and let the journalist do his work. They said that he is a good source for them and named him "the best Somali journalist ever, while  others said that he is a brave enough to investigate the corruption and the misconducts of the powerful government officials

Dahabshiil Company has failed to silence Mr. Alasow and they asked a paid news outlet to defame him while he was on his trip to Uganda. In the printed news, they called him "the leader of the terrorist group of Al-Shabaab”but how should a person believe that President Obama or Yuweri Museveni and those fighting against terror groups are the leaders of the same group they fight against. I think it is not logic,” said Fatumo Jibril, who is an activist for Democracy.

Dahabshiil company is accused of supporting financially both Silanyo Administrations of Somaliland and Al-Qaeda aligned the terrorist group of Al-Shabaab.The company has denied those accusations.

Dahabshiil Company sued Alasow accusing him defamation, however, the journalist received a number of death threats from the company and lost several colleagues of his. In September 2015, he lost the Editor of the Waagacusub’s English section in the hands of unknown assailants.

Source: Barbaariye.com

By Shamis Abdalla

Hargeisa – Somaliland

[email protected]