Hargeisa (KAAB TV) – A court in Hargeisa, Somaliland, on Wednesday remanded female Somali-British journalist, Busharo Ali Mohamed (popularly known as Bushaaro Baanday) in custody for another seven days, according to colleagues and opposition members who visited her in the police custody.
Busharo was detained on Monday this week from Wajaale town as she was crossing from Ethiopian side of the border to Somaliland.
Family members said she was traveling to Hargeisa for journalistic assignment.
According to the journalists and officials of the opposition parties, Busharo was transferred to Hargeisa police station where she is currently being held.
On Wednesday, after a short appearance, the Hargeisa court permitted the police seven more days to remand in police custody pending investigations.
Busharo was known of her critical coverage on Somaliland authoirities. In her May 2022 report she described how Somaliland’s democracy is going to fail under the auspices of president Muse Bihi Abdi.
In the audiovisual report which went viral, Mrs. Busharo termed Muse Bihi an autocratic president.
Torture
On Wednesday two opposition officials in Somaliland, Yusuf Keyse Abdillahi and member of parliament Said Abdisamad visited the journalist at the central police station in Hargeisa.
In their press briefing they said that the journalist was tortured in Wajale when she was arrested.
“Police officers at the Wajaale border point beat her and caused at least two injuries on her face and the right leg,” said Mr. Yusuf Keyse Abdillahi from Waddani opposition party.
Lawmaker Said Abdisamad described Busharo’s detention as unlawful calling for her immediate freedom.
It is not clear when Busharo will appear in the court.