The President of Puntland, Abdirahman Farole, appoints son as his media director

In an interview with Horseednet Media, Mohamed Abdirahman Farole, a controversial, self-styled media admirer and owner of Radiogarowe.com, admitted his appointment to lead President Farole’s media relations office.

Mohamed has been fore-front since his father has been elected to the presidency. He was a great supporter during the Puntland election earlier this year; was in charge of his father’s election campaign; held number of press releases on behalf of Mr. Farole, his own father.

“My job is to improve the relationship between the president’s office and the Puntland Media,” Mohamed said in an interview. However, many questioned the purpose of this selective appointment. Mr. Farole has been very critical toward the media, and his intolerance surfaced soon after he took office earlier this year.

In less than 8 months in office, more than 10 journalists have been detained on a number of unfounded allegations; some of them have been subjected to torture and imprisonment; others were taken hostage on a ransom. The international community and humanitarian organizations warned Mr. Farole’s administration in several occasions.

Despite the warnings from the international community and the outcry from Puntland’s diaspora members, then, comes president’s appointment of own son, a new dictatorial paradigm that has been widely criticized.

Many wonder why the president chose his son who has no journalistic background over more qualified candidates? perhaps, the president does not want to trust anyone outside his family circles.