SOMALIA: Puntland lifts broadcasting ban

NAIROBI, 12 May 2003 (IRIN) - The authorities in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland have restored the broadcasting licence of the Somali Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) radio and television, based in the region's commercial capital, Bosaso, Puntland's acting information minister told IRIN on Monday. Abdishakur Mire Aden said the SBC had been allowed to resume broadcasting after its owners petitioned the Puntland president, Col Abdullahi Yusuf. "The president has instructed my ministry to restore SBC's licence, and we did so last week. They are free to operate in Puntland," Abdishakur said. The licence was withdrawn in May last year after the authorities accused it of having "a political agenda inimical to the Puntland state", local sources told IRIN at the time. The radio was also accused of bias in favour of Jama Ali Jama, Abdullahi Yusuf's rival for the Puntland leadership. According to Abdishakur, the SBC - which had a contract with the BBC to rebroadcast its news services - "will not be allowed to do so, until the BBC makes an official request to the Puntland authorities". Other sources in Bosaso told IRIN that the lifting of the ban on the SBC was part of ongoing reconciliation efforts within Puntland. Abdishakur, however, said "the decision to return SBC's licence had nothing to do with the current talks, and was decided on its own merit". Reconciliation talks are underway in Bosaso between Abdullahi Yusuf's administration and the leader of the opposition's armed wing, Gen Ade Muse Hirsi. "Most of the issues have been dealt with, and an official statement will be issued at the end of the talks in a few days' time," Abdishakur told IRIN.