Is Puntland following the failure of Mogadishu media to promote peace?
Puntland’s independent media agencies have always practiced a culture of promoting peace and governance. The media played an intrumental role in the lead-up to the 2009 peaceful election in Puntland, which saw an opposition leader elected and an incumbent president step down democratically. It is this culture of peace that Puntland’s media has always been recognized and valued for. But there is a disturbing trend being followed by one particular media agency in Puntland called “Horseed Media” today. This organization, which has historically been bitter and critical of Radio Garowe/Garoweonline.com, has most recently embarked on two traditions inherited from Mogadishu’s media agencies: 1) airing the views of violent fanatics, whether religious or clan-based in nature; and 2) playing the “victim card” when one of its reporters faces the law for threatening the security of Puntland State.
