On 11 December, a group of journalists from local media outlets were covering two bomb explosions in Mogadishu’s Dayniile and Daaru Salaam districts, when police briefly arrested them and confiscated their equipment, preventing the journalists from their right to access information.

The journalists—Ja’far Mohamed Jimale (reporter), Sumayo Ali Hussein (reporter), and Abdirahman Mohamed Ahmed (cameraman)—were reporting for Kalsan TV, while Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman and her unnamed camera operator were covering the incident for the online news channel Hirasho TV. Iqro said she was held by a soldier who twisted her arm during the arrest. The journalists were taken to the Dayniile Police Station, where police officers warned them not to report on the bombings.

Journalists said one of the two explosions targeted a local school in Dayniile neighborhood where an event related to the preparations for the disputed Mogadishu elections was taking place, killing at least one person and injuring several others. The second blast targeted another school in Daaru Salaam district, injuring an unknown number of people.  Recently, Somalia’s Minister of Education, Farah Abdukadir, announced that schools would be used as polling stations for the vote scheduled for 25 December, despite objections from educational institutions citing serious security risks.

Separately, on 11 December, six reporters were briefly arrested by police and members of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in Yaaqshiid district while reporting on a car accident that killed at least one person. Qasim Abdille Barrow and his colleague, cameraman Mohamed Adan of Somali Cable TV, said they were beaten with pistols before being arrested and having their equipment seized. Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim of Himilo Media and his colleague, cameraman Abdirisak Haji Sidow, were also arrested and had their equipment confiscated.

Ali Yasin Ali, a cameraman with Somali Media Services (SMS), and Hussein Isse Mohamed, a reporter, told SJS that they were beaten with a gun by a soldier and briefly detained alongside Risaala TV cameraman Salman Abdirizak Shire, RTN TV cameraman Mohamed Abdukadir, Universal Somali TV reporter Abshir Abdullahi Amin, and Saab TV reporter Deeq Moalim Jinow.

Journalists in Mogadishu have reported increased pressure and threats from security agencies aimed at preventing coverage of terrorist attacks and local community complaints related to the controversial election in the capital. Residents have repeatedly described incidents in which people were abducted from the streets and forcibly registered as voters without their consent. Shooting incidents resulting in deaths have also been reported in the northern parts of the capital.

Journalists also told SJS that both bribery attempts and threats have been directed at media directors and journalists deemed critical of the government, including those working for international media outlets, in exchange for favorable coverage.

The disputed national election team has not responded to requests for comment.

“SJS condemns these acts of arbitrary arrests and detention, bribery and threats in which journalists were detained, their equipment seized, and they were prevented from reporting on matters of public interest in Mogadishu over the past weeks. We are also alarmed by the level of threats directed at critical reporters by the so-called independent electoral body, as Mogadishu faces serious security and economic challenges,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin. “These constitute a gross constitutional violation, depriving journalists of their right to access information and report freely—rights that, sadly, the Somali security forces, who are supposed to uphold them, have been ignoring.”

“We call on all those involved in these attacks to immediately stop. Journalists must be able to report on any incident occurring in their areas, whether or not those in power approve of the coverage,” added Mr. Mumin.

The post Journalists in Mogadishu Face Increased Attacks and Arrests Ahead of a Disputed ‘Local Election’ appeared first on Kaab TV.

On Thursday, 18 December 2025, an audio clip falsely purporting to be the voice of Somali Senator Abdirahman Mohamed Faroole, a former President of Puntland and currently part of the opposition coalition attending Kismayo conference, began circulating widely on Facebook, a Meta-owned platform that is popular in Somalia.

The AI-generared audio claimed that Senator Faroole, lasting one minute and four seconds, calls for “violence to happen in Mogadishu”. It explicitly invokes clan hostilities with a mention of regions such as Gedo, Hargeisa [Somaliland] and Laascaanood.  Senator Faroole made no such remarks.

After cross-checking with AI voice detection tools, the audio was confirmed to be a deepfake generated using AI voice-creation technology, manipulated from phrases taken from a real speech delivered at the Kismayo political opposition conference, which began on 18 December.

“It is a common reality that words, phrases, or partial sentences taken from a person’s speech can be trained with AI tools to create fake audio that is sometimes difficult for a general audience to detect. In this case, this is exactly how AI deepfake creators manipulated Senator Faroole’s speech,” said SJS Secretary of Information and Human Rights, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul.

Following alerts from local journalists and digital content creators, SJS investigated the matter amid growing fears that the disinformation could damage journalists’ credibility, distort public understanding of political developments, and potentially lead to intercommunal conflict.  SJS’s review found that more than 86 Facebook pages and profiles had shared the same fake audio.

How Fast the AI-Generated Audio Spread

A keyword-based search conducted by SJS, within less than 24 hours after the fake audio emerged, showed that the content was viewed over 1.1 million times, shared more than 12,000 times, and received over 3,700 comments on Facebook alone, demonstrating how rapidly such harmful content can spread.

As of Saturday, 20 December, the reach had increased to approximately 2 million views on Facebook alone.

Alarmingly, some of the accounts amplifying the deepfake content are verified with Facebook’s blue badge and those affiliated to state media in Mogadishu which have substantial followings.

As a result, on Friday, 19 December, several Somali Federal Government officials, including the Minister of Defence, and a government-backed elder repeated the false claims from the AI-generated audio during election campaign speeches in Mogadishu, further amplifying the misinformation through local media.

This is not an isolated case. SJS has observed a troubling rise in the irresponsible use of AI, including the manipulation of women’s images to falsely depict nudity, and the creation of fake voices to attribute statements to individuals that were never made.

Facebook, owned by Meta, is highly popular in Somalia, and many people, including journalists, rely on it for news and information. According to Meta’s advertising resources, Facebook had approximately 2.6 million users in Somalia in early 2025.

Journalists, public figures, and especially women have been increasingly targeted, with serious personal and professional consequences. Some pages even impersonate known journalists, politicians, and celebrities, further eroding trust in credible information and posing a serious threat to media freedom and public safety in Somalia.

“Deepfake content, especially when spread on social media, can directly endanger communities by spreading false claims that may incite violence or unrest and can endanger journalists’ safety. It can weaken the integrity of media institutions,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin “What we are seeing is that untrained journalists cannot stop false narratives created with AI, leaving the public unable to distinguish facts from lies.”

“In this context, SJS suggests that media professionals must be trained to identify and respond to deepfake content, and communities must be educated on the risks posed by AI-generated misinformation and disinformation,” Mr. Mumin adds.

SJS calls on Meta to take immediate measures to identify, remove, and limit the spread of AI-generated misinformation and disinformation in Somalia, and to work with Somali journalists and media organizations to develop safeguards to protect the integrity of the Somali media.

The post Deepfake AI Audio Clip Sparks False Call for Violence in Somalia, Journalists Could not Detect it appeared first on Kaab TV.

On Wednesday, 17 December, Radio Gaalkacyo reported that the Puntland Mudug Regional Prosecutor, Muxubo Faysal Axmed, issued a summons ordering Mohamed Abdul Aziz—director of the oldest community-owned radio station, Radio Gaalkacyo, based in Galkayo city—to appear before the Prosecutor’s Office.

A copy of the summons received by SJS states: “The Mudug Regional Prosecutor’s Office directs the Director of Radio Gaalkacyo, Mohamed Abdul Aziz, to appear before the Mudug Regional Prosecutor’s Office on 20/12/2025 at 10:00 a.m. to respond to a complaint filed with the Prosecutor’s Office by the Governor of Mudug Region, Faysal Sheikh Ali.”

Radio Gaalkacyo stated that the summons by the regional prosecutor “is an attempt to use the Office of the Prosecutor to suppress the media.”

According to Mohamed Abdul Aziz, who spoke to SJS, the summons followed Radio Gaalkacyo’s recent reporting on a dispute over the formation of a new district council for Heema town, in northern Mudug.  Local Councillors have alleged interference by Mudug Governor Faysal Sheikh Ali in the process.

On 8 December, Radio Gaalkacyo published a video on its Facebook page showing a group of Galkayo councillors attempting to visit Heema, a rural town outside Galkayo, but reportedly being blocked by armed men acting on the orders of Governor Faysal Sheikh Ali.

On the same day, the station also shared another video featuring local women from Heema who appealed directly to Puntland President Sa’id Abdullahi Deni, urging him to intervene.

The dispute in Heema town followed the removal of a former district council and the reported election of a new one. Community members have raised concerns about worsening drought conditions, lack of adequate water, and the need for a district administration that genuinely represents and understands local realities. Residents say many officials assigned to the area “do not live there and therefore cannot fully grasp” the community’s hardships.

When contacted for comment, Mudug Governor Faysal Sheikh Ali declined to respond.

In June this year, Mohamed Abdul Aziz and a colleague were arrested on the orders of Governor Faysal Sheikh Ali after Radio Gaalkacyo reported on a protest by local youth demanding accountability in Galkayo town.

Galkayo, the capital of central Somalia’s Mudug region, is divided into two administrations: the northern part is under Puntland, while the southern part is administered by Galmudug State.

“SJS calls on the Puntland State’s Mudug Regional Prosecutor to stop harassment and summonses aimed at silencing public-interest reporting. We also urge Governor of Mudug, Mr. Faysal Sheikh Ali to cease using state power to intimidate journalists covering critical issues of public concern,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“State officials, including those in Mudug region, have many important responsibilities and should focus on those, rather than wasting resources targeting the media that report critically to them. Local communities have the right to express themselves, and when their voices are ignored, the media serves as the frontline defender of their concerns,” added Mr. Mumin.

The post Puntland: Mudug Prosecutor Summons Radio Gaalkacyo Director Over District Council Dispute Reporting appeared first on Kaab TV.

Sharif Shuriye Hashi, a 35-year-old reporter for Universal Somali TV, was arrested from his home in Jowhar on 8 December by Hirshabelle State police officers. According to local journalists, the arrest was led by Hassan Jabshe, Deputy Commander of the Jowhar Police Station.

Sharif’s newly wedded wife, Hamdi Muse Digow, also 35, was arrested on the same day. Both remain in police custody.

During the arrest, Sharif told SJS that he was beaten, handcuffed with a rope, and that he sustained injuries during the beating, including swelling at the back of his head, and continues to suffer severe pain. He added that he has been denied access to medical care. A family member also informed SJS that they are deeply concerned about his deteriorating health due to the abuse and lack of medical attention while in detention.

On Saturday, 13 December, police brought Sharif and his wife before the Jowhar District Court, alleging that their marriage—conducted in September 2025—was “illegitimate.”, according to a report by the local media.  Authorities reportedly claimed that Sharif, who belongs to the Jareer (Bantu) community, could not lawfully marry a woman from the Hawiye/Hawadle clan. This information was reported by Himilo Media and confirmed to SJS by a journalist and a clan elder who attended the court hearing.

During the proceedings, Sharif and Hamdi maintained that they are “legally and willingly” married and presented witnesses to their nikah, which took place on 25 September 2025 in Jowhar, according to a document seen by SJS.  Jowhar police also produced a local sheikh, whom Sharif identified as the cleric who conducted the nikah, along with proof of mobile money payment used during the nikah ceremony. However, according to those present in court, the same sheikh later recanted his statement to the court and stated that he had not conducted the marriage.

Hamdi Muse Digow, who remains in detention, spoke to a local journalist stating that she and her husband were “arrested due to pressure from her clan”. She stated that she is “being detained for marrying a man with whom she had been in a relationship for ten years”.

A clan elder, who requested anonymity, told SJS that elders from both communities met following the court hearing on Saturday to resolve the matter. The discussions ended without agreement, as members of Hamdi’s family reportedly insisted that intermarriage with the Bantu community “was unacceptable”.  Other sources informed SJS that Deputy Police Commander Hassan Jabshe, who is heavily involved in the case, belongs to the same clan as Hamdi.

Both Hassan Jabshe and the Jowhar police command declined to speak to SJS.

Sharif Shuriye Hashi comes from the historically marginalized and often oppressed Jareer (Bantu) community in Southern Somalia. He migrated from Buloburte in central Somalia several years ago, where he began his career as a junior radio reporter for a local radio statiom. In Jowhar, he worked for the local radio station City FM before joining Mogadishu-based Universal Somali TV as its Jowhar correspondent.

In recent weeks, Sharif reported on two significant and sensitive stories. On 23 November 2025, he reported that “fuel prices had sharply increased” after al‑Qaeda-linked al‑Shabaab militants blocked roads to Jowhar and arrested tanker drivers transporting fuel from Mogadishu. Just days before his arrest, On 2 December 2025, he reported “a sharp rise in sesame crop prices in Jowhar markets“, attributing it to recurring droughts and floods affecting farmers in Middle Shabelle.

Local authorities in Hirshabelle have a history of targeting journalists and censoring media outlets that report on underdevelopment in the region and the impact of al-Shabaab’s presence on the livelihoods of local communities.

“SJS strongly condemns the unlawful arrest, abuse, and continued detention of journalist Sharif Shuriye Hashi and his wife Hamdi Muse Digow. Their detention represents a blatant abuse of power, driven by discrimination and intimidation rather than the rule of law. We call for their immediate and unconditional release and for an end to these unfounded court proceedings, which are being used as a tool to harass and silence a journalist for his work,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“The police must focus on their core responsibility of ensuring public security and protecting civilians, not arresting journalists or making false and intrusive accusations about the legality of personal marriages. Such actions undermine justice, violate fundamental rights, and erode public trust in law enforcement,” Mr. Mumin adds  “We also urge international partners supporting the Somali police to closely scrutinize this case and ensure that their assistance does not contribute to human rights abuses, discrimination, or the suppression of media freedom.”

The post Critical Somali Bantu Journalist Beaten, Arrested with His Wife, and Falsely Accused of Illegitimate Marriage in Hirshabelle State appeared first on Kaab TV.

On 29 November, authorities in Marka, the capital of the Lower Shabelle region, ordered the closure of MarkaFM, a privately owned radio station. According to the station’s founder and manager, Ahmed Omar, the closure order was issued by the Marka District Commissioner, Osman Muse, after the radio reported on a gunfight between forces loyal to the district commissioner and those aligned with the head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in Marka.

The fighting on 29 November reportedly stemmed from a dispute over control of fees collected from the registration of the national ID (NIRA) in the district. Residents in Marka were recently instructed to register for the national ID, and fees were reportedly collected from applicants.

Ahmed Omar, told SJS that this was not the first time the station had come under pressure from local authorities. On 9 November, officials contacted the radio’s staff and demanded the removal of a news report about a bomb explosion inside a restaurant that caused civilian injuries.

Journalists at the station further told SJS that the authorities have repeatedly threatened them. On 29 November, Ahmed Omar told SJS that he was beaten by the Marka district commissioner after being summoned into the commissioner’s office.

MarkaFM is the only privately owned radio station that had been operational in Marka since September this year. The station’s manager told SJS that the outlet has five employees. The radio has remained off-air since 29 November.

Calls by SJS to Marka District Commissioner Osman Muse seeking an explanation went unanswered.

“We strongly condemn the closure of MarkaFM and the ongoing intimidation of its journalists. Silencing the only independent radio station in Marka is a direct attack on press freedom and the public’s right to information. We urge the local authorities to immediately allow the station to resume broadcasting and to stop all forms of threats against its staff,” said SJS Secretary General Abdalle Mumin.

The post MarkaFM Radio Shut Down After Reporting on Gunfight and Bomb Explosion appeared first on Kaab TV.

Armed police officers, acting on the orders of the Somali Police Commissioner, Asad Osman Abdullahi, and the Banadir Regional Police Commander, Mahdi Omar Muumin (commonly known as Moalim Mahdi), raided the Himilo Media studio in Mogadishu’s Maka al-Mukarama Avenue. According to the station’s management, the journalists locked themselves inside the studio, prompting the police to leave temporarily.

Later in the day, officers from the Waberi Police Station phoned Himilo Media Director Ahmed Mohamed Adan and reporter Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim, summoning them to the station. Upon their arrival, both journalists were arrested and placed in detention. They were told that their arrest was linked to Himilo Media’s reports on forced evictions in Mogadishu.

In the evening, Director Ahmed Mohamed Adan was released without charge while reporter Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim remained in police custody.

A source at the station informed SJS that Moalim Mahdi, the Commander of Mogadishu Police and a former defector from the Al-Shabaab militant group, demanded that Himilo Media delete three recently published reports on the forced evictions of vulnerable families, including women and children, in Mogadishu.

One of the reports featured an interview with an elderly man, Ahmed Siicow Mohamed, who was beaten and dragged by police officers and the national intelligence and security (NISA) agents during a forced eviction operation in the Siinaay neighborhood on 24 September. The other two reports highlighted an injured man whose house was demolished and several vulnerable women who were left homeless.

The director of Himilo Media told SJS that the outlet refused to comply with this demand.

SJS strongly condemns the arrest of the two Himilo Media journalists. Himilo Media has been repeatedly targeted over the past few months for its courageous reporting on government human rights violations, including the ongoing forced evictions affecting Mogadishu’s most marginalized communities.

We demand the immediate release of Khadar Abdirahim and call for an end to the harassment, intimidation, and censorship against journalists working for Himilo Media.

“The actions by the Somali police against Himilo Media and its journalists represent a blatant abuse of power and a serious violation of press freedom and human rights,” said Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, Secretary General of SJS  “Arresting journalists and ordering the deletion of news reports on forced evictions is an unacceptable attempt to silence critical reporting and conceal abuses against vulnerable communities in Mogadishu.”

“We call for the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim and urge the authorities to end all forms of intimidation, harassment, and censorship targeting Himilo Media and other independent journalists,” Mr. Mumin adds.

The post Mogadishu Police Raid Himilo Media Studio and Arrest Two Journalists for Reporting on Forced Evictions of Vulnerable Families appeared first on Kaab TV.

On 9 August 2025, a new suspension order was issued by the Maroodi Jeex Appeals Court. Judge Abdikarin Omar Abdi ordered the “reinstatement of the suspension imposed on the websites hadhwanaagnews.co, hadhwanaagnews.ca, and hadhwanaagtv.com.”  The decision, seen by SJS, also imposed a six-month prison sentence and a fine of 500,000 Somaliland Shillings (approx. $50) on each of the Hadhwanaag News journalists, who are currently outside the country.

The websites’ suspension first imposed in early September 2019, which had been lifted in February this year, has now been reinstated. The court also ordered “all local internet service providers to block” the websites.

Hadhwanaag News is an independent news outlet run by Canada-based Somaliland exiled journalists. For years, its reporters have faced relentless legal threats and persecution merely for exposing corruption allegations against former Central Bank Governor Ali Ibrahim Jama, widely known as Ali Baghdadi.

Ali Baghdadi, who returned from Canada, was appointed as Governor of the Central Bank in April 2018. In 2019, Hadhwanaag News published an article and photos showing the Governor constructing two modern buildings in Hargeisa, which sources alleged were “hotels and commercial spaces” registered “under concealed ownership and guarded by security forces”.

Following this exposé, Ali Baghdadi filed a lawsuit at the Maroodi Jeex Regional Court, which on 5 September 2019 ordered the suspension of the Hadhwanaag News website. Police in Hargeisa began targeting Hadhwanaag News journalists. On 10 September 2019, Editor Abdiqani Abdillahi Ahmed (Asbaro) and reporter Abdirisaq Goud Nur were arrested, followed by the arrest of reporter Abdirahman Sheikh Hassan on 19 September. They were freed on bail on 23 September after two weeks in detention, but later fled the country due to escalating threats, SJS reported at the time.

In April 2021, police arrested freelance journalist, Adan Abdi Idle, over similar reporting on the alleged “corruption of Ali Baghdadi.” He was released after two weeks in custody, as reported by SJS at the time.

Ali Baghdadi was eventually removed from office in a cabinet reshuffle in September 2021.

On 8 February 2025, the Maroodi Jeex Regional Court lifted the suspension on Hadhwanaag News websites. A court document signed by Judge Ilyas Da’ud Ibrahim stated that “the suspension order was lifted since the case has concluded and a decision has been issued.”

However, on 9 August 2025, the Appeals Court issued a new suspension order, reinstating the ban on the websites and reimposing prison sentences and fines on the journalists in absentia.

“This ruling by the Maroodi Jeex Appeals Court is a politically motivated attack on press freedom and independent journalism in Somaliland. By reinstating the suspension of Hadhwanaag News just five months after it was lifted, and sentencing its journalists in absentia, the authorities are sending a chilling message to all critical voices,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin “These actions not only violate Somaliland’s constitution but also undermine fundamental international human rights standards.”

“We urge on the Maroodi Jeex Regional Court to reverse this draconian decision and ensure the safety and freedom of all journalists. Somaliland authorities must ensure that journalists who investigate corruption and officials’ wrongdoings are not persecuted as such action will only diminish the role of the media as public interest watchdog,” Mr. Mumin adds.

The post Somaliland Court Reinstates Hadhwanaag News Website Suspension, Journalists Sentenced in Absentia appeared first on Kaab TV.

We strongly condemn the reported threats against journalists who expressed interest in covering the planned opposition-led demonstration scheduled for Saturday.

On Wednesday, 24 September, a dozen journalists faced serious risks to their safety when they accompanied leaders of the opposition, the Somali Salvation Forum, to the Warta Nabadda police station in Mogadishu. The opposition members and accompanying media crews came under gunfire that left at least two people dead and seven others injured, according to media reports. While no journalists were killed, a female journalist, Shukri Aabi Abdi, told SJS that she sustained minor facial bruises as she crawled to safety while seeking shelter.

At least five local media outlets reported losing journalistic equipment as their reporters fled during the attack.

On Thursday, 25 September, the Speaker of the Lower House of the Somali Federal Parliament, Aden Mohamed Nur (Sheikh Aden Madobe), blocked a dozen local journalists who were waiting for his press briefing during his visit to the Warta Nabadda police station. The journalists were kept outside, prevented from reporting, and were warned by armed soldiers not to point their cameras toward the station. Another female reporter from a local TV station told SJS that journalists were held there for more than two hours.

Meanwhile, on Friday, SJS received reports from at least five journalists who said they were prepared to cover the opposition-announced demonstration in Mogadishu on Saturday. The demonstration was called by the Somali Salvation Forum in response to Wednesday’s attack and to protest the ongoing forced evictions affecting Mogadishu residents.

Somali government officials, including Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi and Mogadishu Mayor Hassan Mohamed Hussein, publicly denounced the planned protest and warned the public against participation.  However, opposition leaders have insisted that the demonstration — which they described as “peaceful” — will go ahead as planned.

“We condemn the violent attack in Mogadishu on Wednesday, which resulted in loss of lives and endangered the safety of journalists as well as many civilians. The repeated targeting, intimidation, and blocking of journalists in Mogadishu is unacceptable and poses a grave threat to press freedom,” said Abdalle Mumin, Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS). “Journalists must be able to report freely and safely, especially on matters of public interest such as opposition activities and demonstrations. We call on the Somali authorities to immediately end these acts of repression and to guarantee the safety and protection of all media workers.”

The post Journalists’ Safety Gravely Undermined During Opposition Coverage in Mogadishu – SJS appeared first on Kaab TV.

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.

The post Two Puntland Journalists Face Legal Threats Over Critical Reporting – SJS appeared first on Kaab TV.

High youth unemployment—estimated between 60–67%—has left many young people struggling to find formal work.

Yet, amid these challenges, Somali youth are turning to entrepreneurship, finding innovative ways to create livelihoods, drive economic growth, and even foster peace.

With few formal job opportunities, many young Somalis are starting their own businesses in sectors like retail, transport, technology, agriculture, and creative industries.

By leveraging mobile technology, digital finance, and e-commerce, youth-led startups are solving local problems—from food delivery to online education—demonstrating the role of young innovators in rebuilding the economy.

This week on Baraarug Podcast, we meet Fardowsa Mohamed Ali, a young university graduate from Mogadishu who founded her own event management company.

Fardowsa shared with Baraarug how difficult it was to access investment.

“I tried to get a loan from banks, but it wasn’t possible,” she explained. Instead, she turned to local wholesalers in Mogadishu, negotiating to buy products in small quantities that she could resell through the events she managed. “That way, I could be their loyal customer and still make a profit,” she said.

As the eldest child in her family, Fardowsa struggled to find a job after graduating, making it difficult to support herself and her family.

Today, her small company is thriving. She spoke with Anfa Aden Abdi of Baraarug, sharing the story of how determination and creativity helped her turn challenges into opportunity.

The post Somali Youth Turning Challenges into a Startup: Fardowsa Mohamed Ali’s Journey in Mogadishu appeared first on Kaab TV.