Puntland Spokesman Accuses Somalia President of Bankrolling “Pro-Al-shabaab Propaganda”

[Deeq A.]

Garowe (PP News Desk) — Puntland Government Spokesman Jama Daparani tweeted that the President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed had funded pro-Al-shabaab propaganda against Puntland State.

Daparani’s tweet pertains to a cartoon by Amin Amir, a Somali-Canadian cartoonist, on the recent execution of 18 Al-shabaab ringleaders in Galkayo.

A cartoon that will trigger a debate on the fine line between freedom of speech and incendiarism.

Amir’s cartoon conveyed the message that then the men found guilty of masterminding Al-Shabaab assassinations had been innocent. One of the characters in the cartoon was made to say in Maay dialect, “Oh boy! I am innocent; you are wrong”.  Amir portrays Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni as the executioner.

Puntland State Government publicised interviews with suspects who shared stories about their recruitment and how they carried out assassinations in North Galkayo.

“Amin Amir’s cartoon seeks to exonerate criminals who were investigated under due process and convicted of terrorist activities” said Adan Mohamud, a former member of Galkayo City Council.

“Amin Amir is not exercising freedom of speech when he implies Puntland Government illegally incriminates Somalis from Southwest State. Puntland Government is looking into making representations to the respective Canadian authorities about what we see as glorification of terrorism” said a senior official at Puntland Presidency, who prefers to be quoted anonymously.

There is no evidence that Somalia President bankrolls pro-Al-shabaab propaganda. “Daparani has acted hastily without consulting legal experts of Puntland Government” added the official.

© Puntland Post, 2021. 

The post Puntland Spokesman Accuses Somalia President of Bankrolling “Pro-Al-shabaab Propaganda” appeared first on Puntland Post.