Somaliland's Pro-Opposition Horyaal Radio Back On Air

Hargeysa, Somaliland, July 7, 2007 (Haatuf Daily) – Radio Horyaal, which was off air for about a year, resumed its work on last Wednesday.

The station, which is also available via satellite, is the only radio station that is heard throughout Somaliland. Most of the programmes aired by the radio are debates on the work done by the Somaliland government and its weaknesses, that which has led to the accusation that the station supports, or airs the opinion of the opposition.

The station was denied the license to broadcast inside Somaliland by the Rayale administration back in 2005 when it was established. The station had to resort to broadcasting its transmissions from a European country for its listeners in Somaliland. The government continues the embargo on licensing private network radio stations in operating inside Somaliland

The country requires a station that can be heard in every corner. However, Radio Horyaal is expected to give a balanced news to its Somaliland listeners.

Somaliland Media organizations are encouraging the government to respect the independence of the media and to allow the different views of the Somaliland people heard equally. The media organizations congratulate Horyaal, and wishes success in the hard task that lie ahead which it's doing for the nation. They said that it is sure Horyaal will air balanced reports that are in the interest of the Somaliland people.

Source: BBC Monitoring