Mogadishu (KAAB TV) – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) expresses deep concern over the reappointment of Mahad Mohamed Salad as the Director of the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). This decision is widely perceived as a reward for his well-documented record of violations against independent journalists, media organizations, and vulnerable communities, who continue to face threats, intimidation, and complex forms of repression under his watch.
Mahad Salad was first appointed as NISA Director on May 26, 2022, but was dismissed on April 4, 2024, following numerous accusations involving targeted attacks against media outlets, civil society organizations, and minority groups, according to media reports. Despite these serious allegations, no formal investigation was conducted into his actions. He was reappointed on June 1, 2025, and officially resumed office on Saturday, June 14.
Targeted Attacks Against SJS and Independent Media
On October 10, 2022, NISA forces raided the offices of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) in Mogadishu after staff had concluded their work for the day. CCTV footage obtained by SJS confirmed that the operation was led by a former Al-Shabaab member who had defected and was working with NISA at the time.
On October 11, 2022, Abdalle Ahmed Muumin, the General Secretary of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), was abducted from Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu. He was held in an underground facility for 11 days, during which he endured torture and survived multiple assassination attempts.
On April 13, 2024, the Banadir Regional Court ordered the freezing of SJS bank accounts, based on confidential information provided by Premier Bank, an institution reportedly affiliated with the Somali government. Earlier that year, in January 2024, officials from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) suspended a training session for women journalists organized by SJS in Mogadishu.
On February 23, 2023, Muumin was arrested again by NISA and police officers, following direct orders from Mahad Salad and the liaison of Deputy Minister of Information, Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adalah. He was subjected to 33 days of torture and ill-treatment in secret detention facilities before being released in late March 2023. Shortly after, he was forced to flee the country.
Under orders from Mahad Salad, journalists in Mogadishu and beyond faced widespread surveillance, arbitrary detention, violence, and threats. SJS documented the following incidents:
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November 30, 2022: Journalists covering the Federal Parliament were threatened with imprisonment or death after MPs raised questions about the Villa Rays Hotel attack.
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December 18, 2022: UK-based Channel 4 reporter Jamal Mohammed Osman, a Somali-British journalist, was unlawfully detained by NISA while on assignment in Mogadishu.
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December 19, 2022: NISA officers physically assaulted journalist Mohamed Nur Mohamed from Arlaadi Media inside the National Assembly building.
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December 24, 2022: SJS officer Abdirahman Hassan Omar and several staff members were detained without cause at Mogadishu Airport by NISA troops en route to the Hiran region.
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December 24, 2022: Arlaadi Media editor Aweys Bashir Abdirahman was assaulted near KM4 by individuals believed to be NISA agents.
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February 10, 2023: SJS legal advisor Abdirahman Hassan Omar was attacked by four armed men in a coordinated assault near Bakara Market, an area under NISA control.
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February 20, 2023: Radio Kulmiye reporters Ali Ilmi Salad and Sakariye Mohamed Salad were arrested and interrogated by NISA personnel.
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April 7, 2023: NISA officer Mahad Arab Dhiblawe, stationed at Mogadishu Airport, issued threats against SJS Secretary General Abdalle Muumin and reporters from Risala Media following an interview in which Muumin spoke about his abduction by NISA. Days later, the journalist who conducted the interview stated that he was pressured to remove it after facing online harassment and threats allegedly linked to the Somali Ministry of Information.
Targeted Attacks on Somali Journalists and SJS: A Call for Accountability
In August 2023, the website and email systems of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) were taken offline following a wave of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. The attacks, traced to IP addresses leased by criminal groups believed to be affiliated with Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), overwhelmed the SJS website with millions of requests from nearly 20,000 IP addresses between August 18 and 19.
The attacks coincided with the abduction of Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul, SJS Secretary for Information and Human Rights, who was kidnapped by NISA agents and police in Mogadishu on August 17, 2023. He was held without charge for 56 days after exposing police corruption.
Media Repression and Intimidation
Journalists and editors interviewed by SJS reported that informants embedded in media outlets monitor and threaten reporters critical of NISA. This environment of fear has led many Somali journalists to self-censor or flee abroad to avoid persecution.
Between May 2022 and April 2024, a disturbing new tactic emerged: the use of bribes and coordinated social media troll campaigns—allegedly funded by NISA—to discredit and harass journalists and civil society figures. These online campaigns often involve character assassination, defamation, and even incitement to violence.
Even journalists covering Al-Shabaab activities have faced threats after reporting critically on NISA leadership, illustrating the precarious situation for independent media, caught between government repression and extremist threats.
Harassment and Killings
A CCTV screengrab captured the moment NISA gunmen raided the SJS office in Mogadishu on October 10, 2022.
In February 2024, journalists investigating the murder of Abdinasir Musa Dahable—a Somali Air Force trainee who was tortured and found dead—were threatened by NISA officers reportedly linked to Director Mahad Mohamed Salad. The murder was attributed to NISA agents under the command of an officer known as Salat, one of whom later fled to Nairobi. Although five suspects were arrested, reports suggest they were also tortured by NISA.
To date, no independent investigation has taken place. Journalists told SJS they were warned with “death or disappearance” if they spoke publicly about the case.
Afgoye Airstrike and Threats Against Survivors
On March 18, 2024, a Turkish drone strike targeted the NISA intelligence base in Afgoye, killing 23 civilians, including 14 children, five women, and four men—all from the marginalized Gorgarte community. Amnesty International confirmed that another 17 civilians were injured: 11 children, two women, and four men. Families seeking justice were subsequently threatened by NISA and accused of terrorism links. Journalists investigating the attack were also harassed and threatened by supporters of Mahad Salad.
Call for Justice and Reform
SJS underscores that holding Mahad Mohamed Salad accountable is essential for ending the entrenched culture of impunity in Somalia—not just for the attacks on journalists, but for the broader human rights abuses committed under his leadership. Accountability is critical for achieving lasting peace, stability, and the restoration of the rule of law.
“Instead of facing justice, the Somali government rewarded Mahad Mohamed Salad for his crimes, disregarding the many violations committed against journalists and marginalized communities,” said SJS President Mohamed Ibrahim. “We urge the Somali government to immediately review this decision, remove Salad from his position, and bring him to court. The victims of his actions deserve justice and protection.”
He added, “We also call on the international community—including press freedom and human rights organizations—to speak out and support efforts to ensure accountability. Those who suffered under his leadership are still waiting for justice.”