Mogadishu (KAAB TV) – Somali police have arrested two journalists from SMS Television, a private broadcaster that has recently come under scrutiny from various media watchdogs. The detentions have raised serious concerns about the state of press freedom in the country.
According to a statement released by SMS Television management, the two reporters — Hussein Isse Samawade and Osman Arab — were taken into custody without prior notice or explanation. The station confirmed that it has received no official information regarding the charges against them or their current whereabouts.
“This is a disturbing development. We still do not know where our journalists are being held or why they have been arrested,” the station’s management stated.
Sources suggest that the arrest may be linked to a CCTV recording aired by SMS Television. The footage allegedly showed the journalists exiting a vehicle said to be transporting Fowsiya Jeyte, a Member of the Somali Federal Parliament. The video captured a moment when she was engaging with the public at Sinai Market in Mogadishu. The presence of the journalists during the parliamentarian’s public appearance has raised speculation about the motives behind their detention.
Hasan A’dde, Chairman of SMS Television, strongly condemned the arrests and called on the Federal Government of Somalia to take immediate action to release the journalists and provide a clear explanation for their detention.
“We are extremely concerned about the targeting of our staff members,” said A’dde. “Journalists in Somalia must be allowed to carry out their work freely, without threats, intimidation, or unlawful arrest. These actions undermine the role of the media in a democratic society.”
The Somali Journalists Syndicate and other media advocacy groups have also expressed alarm over the incident, describing it as part of a growing trend of government pressure on independent media outlets.
Somalia has long struggled with issues related to press freedom, with journalists often facing harassment, arrest, and even violence for reporting on sensitive political or security matters.
As the situation develops, local and international observers are calling on Somali authorities to uphold the constitutional right to freedom of the press and to ensure transparency and due process in the handling of media-related cases.