MOGADISHU – The Somali journalists Syndicate (SJS) expresses deep concern over the continued harassment and intimidation of journalists in Puntland, following the summons of Suways Jama Mohamud and Hassan Abdi Ali (Hassan Heykal) by the Puntland Attorney General’s Office earlier this month. Both journalists, who have reported on sensitive issues including political criticism, human rights, and governance, are now facing accusations reportedly filed by the Puntland Ministry of Information, raising serious fears of reprisals for their independent reporting.
On 9 September 2025, the Puntland Attorney General’s (AG) Office summoned journalists Suways Jama Mohamud and Hassan Abdi Ali (popularly known as Hassan Heykal) via phone call over an unspecified issue. The following day, a lawyer representing the two went to the AG’s Office and was informed that both journalists were required to appear before the office.
The lawyer was also told that the case had been filed by the Puntland Ministry of Information.
Suways Jama Mohamud is a reporter and producer at Puntland State TV and the founder of Suways Media, an online platform known for its “street question” interviews in Puntland. On 9 June, Suways published an interview with a local commander of an armed group affiliated with SSC-Khaatumo (now Northeast State Somalia), who claimed that fighting had taken place in a rural village in Sool region called Shaxda during a visit by the Puntland State Minister for the Presidency. Following the interview, Suways told SJS she received threats of arrest, which forced her into hiding for several weeks.
On 23 June, Suways told SJS that she was suspended from her position at Puntland State TV after being accused of being critical of the government in August this year. However, in late August, Puntland’s Ministry of Labor, as well as the workplace committee and human resources office at Puntland State TV, rejected the suspension, concluding that it was unlawful. Members of the Puntland State Parliament also grilled the Minister of Information, and the Director General of Puntland State TV, who had authorized the suspension, on the suspension of Suways. MPs also ordered to reinstate Suways.
She told SJS that while awaiting confirmation of her return to work, she received the call from the AG’s Office summoning her.
Hassan Heykal, director of Milgo Media, which operates in several Puntland locations, told SJS that he began receiving threats from the Office of the Puntland Vice President after he published an interview in May with a young tuk-tuk driver who alleged he had been beaten by security guards of Vice President Ilyas Ahmed Lugatoor. After the interview was posted online, a senior official from the Vice President’s office contacted Heykal, requesting the driver’s contact details, which he provided.
On Sunday, 14 September, Hassan Heykal appeared with his lawyer before the AG’s Office, where he was questioned about five news reports published on Milgo Media. These included: an interview with a clan elder demanding the Puntland Minister of Information apologize to Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s clan; a protest by the family of a murder victim killed in Garowe in June; a commentary by a Puntland government official criticizing the Puntland State Minister of Information in September; an interview with the spokesman of the Puntland counter-terrorism operation, who claimed that the leader of ISIS-Somalia had fled the country; and an interview with a politician who accused the Puntland president of blocking his parliamentary candidacy.
On Thursday, 18 September, Suways also reported to the AG’s Office, where she was questioned about 10 posts published on Suweys Media and one personal comment she had written on Facebook.
SJS’s review of the posts shows that most were vox pop interviews with ordinary citizens voicing criticism of government officials at various levels including criticism to the president and the vice president of Puntland. The Facebook comment in question related to Vice President Lugatoor’s visit to Puntland State TV on 22 May 2025. Suways had commented on a Puntland State House Facebook post, noting remarks the Vice President Lugatoor allegedly made during the visit. That comment is no longer visible.
According to their lawyer, both journalists were instructed to prepare responses to accusations including “criticism of government officials and incitement.”
No written charges were provided. The AG’s Office did not respond when asked why the journalists were not given a written document about the accusations against them, instead of only oral statements.
“The summons of Suways Jama Mohamud and Hassan Heykal by the Puntland Attorney General’s Office marks yet another troubling attempt to silence independent journalism in Puntland,” said Abdalle Mumin, Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS).
“Targeting journalists for their reporting—whether through unlawful suspensions, legal threats, or politically motivated cases—undermines press freedom and the public’s right to know in Puntland. We condemn these actions and we call for Puntland Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Information to drop these accusations immediately and for the Puntland authorities to respect and protect journalists in carrying out their duties. We also demand that Suways Jama Mohamud reinstated to her role at the Puntland State TV inline with the Parliament’s order,” Mr. Mumin added.