Africa: Another Voix De Djibouti Reporter Arrested in Djibouti City

press release

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is appalled by the crackdown in recent weeks on the few journalists still trying to provide independent news reporting in Djibouti and calls for the immediate release of Charmarke Saïd Darar, the latest of many reporters for La Voix de Djibouti to be arrested.

Charmarke Saïd Darar was arrested on the evening of 15 July as the local news continued to be dominated by the detention for a former air force pilot who deserted and whose supporters have been organizing frequent protests. Around 20 men went to the neighbourhood where Darar's parents live in order to arrest him, RSF was told by the head of La Voix de Djibouti (LVD), a radio station and Web TV based in Belgium that is the only independent, Djiboutian-run source of national news coverage for Djibouti's residents. When members of Darar's family tried to intervene, the men told them they were acting on the orders of Col. Daher Miguil, also known as "Elmi Gess." Darar is being held in Djibouti City's 5th district police station, in the municipality of Balbala, RSF has been told by sources close to the case. According to LVD, he has not been allowed access to his lawyer or to his family and is being subjected to degrading treatment.

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