MOGADISHU, Somalia 18 December 2025 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) calls on the Puntland Mudug Regional Prosecutor to immediately stop the intimidation and summons issued against Radio Gaalkacyo Director Mohamed Abdul Aziz, which appear to be part of a wider campaign of pressure linked to the station’s coverage of a dispute arising from the formation of a local district council in the Mudug region.
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.