The government of Somaliland has banned the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) from operating in its territory after accusing it of bias and negative coverage.
The broadcaster’s refusal to recognize the territory as a democratic republic was also cited by government officials.
“After 31 years of our independence and holding three parliamentary elections with five presidents elected to office, the BBC still uses the words that Somaliland people do not deserve to hear,” Somaliland Information Minister Saleeban Yuusuf Ali told a news conference in the capital Hargaisa, on Tuesday.
According to the minister, the BBC has shunned its neutrality and has become biased towards the region.
Somaliland is a former British protectorate in northwestern Somalia that declared independence in 1991 but has received no international recognition.
The State had previously suspended VOA Somali and other media outlets in the past, charging them of breaching sovereignty and denying Somaliland’s existence.
BBC Somali operations in Somaliland suspended following strong grievances by the Somaliland gov with regard to the programs' broadcasting of news & commentary promoting religious extremism & terrorism including March interview with a wanted Alshabab fugitive Sheikh Adan Sune.
— Yusuf Gabobe (@yGabobe) July 19, 2022
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