Mogadishu , December, 16, 2009--As part of the general problems the Somali journalists have been facing in the war-torn nation of horn of Africa, Al-shabab Islamist militants controlling the southern pot town of Kismayo has ordered journalists operating there to inform their reports to the authorities before sending for censorship.

“After series meetings on how we operate we were finally given letters ordering us that we can not report anything with out informing the authorities there for censorship,” a Radio reporter told SOFCA on condition of anonymity because he feared reprisals.

The letter also empowered officials to censor news considered a threat to the interests of the Islamist group. The journalists said.

The Somali Foreign Correspondents Association calls on the Islamists to immediately rescind this order of censorship.

"Silencing the only voice from the region does a disservice to the local people and the freedom of expression as well," said Mohamed Olad Hassan, the chairman of SOFCA

Al Shabab militiamen, controlling the coastal town of Kismayo since August, had forced the local station of independent broadcasting network Horn Afrik off the air on December 13, confiscated it later and turned into a radio of their own voice.

Most of the journalists operating the region fled from the country for their safety and those, who remain behind were forced to operate at Alshabab, run Radio, Andulus.

The journalists have been at the same time reporting for some FM stations in Mogadishu under mysterious restrictions for their own safety.

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