A reporters' advocacy group says authorities in Somaliland have been holding a local journalist for nearly a week without giving a reason.
Paris-based Reporters Without Borders says police arrested Abdirahman Mohammed Habane of the Jamhuuriya newspaper on July 12 in the town of Borame.
The group says Habane was arrested, because of a controversial article in which he referred to incidents that took place during the swearing-in of an elder as the local chief.
Somaliland is a breakaway republic from Somalia that has not won international recognition. Reporters Without Borders say Somaliland's unclear status does not give an excuse to ignore legal procedures for Habane.
The group accused Somaliland authorities of being hostile toward journalists, noting that Habane is the second journalist arrested in the past three weeks.
On June 28, the mayor of Somaliland's capital, Hargeisa, slapped journalist Abdirahman Musse Omar in the face and then had him arrested. Omar was released three days later.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
