MOGADISHU – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) condemns the attacks on four Kalsan TV journalists by NISA and the presidential guards of Galmudug State in Mogadishu, which occurred on 28 August and 8 September, respectively. SJS also condemns the threats against journalist Farhan Mohamed Barale by the Mogadishu police.
On 8 September 2025, the presidential guards of Galmudug State President Ahmed Abdi Kaariye Qoor Qoor assaulted, threatened, fired live bullets, and kidnapped two journalists: Jafar Mohamed Jimale (reporter) and Abdimajid Abdirahman (cameraman), both working for Kalsan TV.
According to media reports, shortly before the arrest, evicted families—mostly women and children—were protesting near the residence where President Qoor Qoor was staying in Mogadishu, voicing complaints over forced evictions carried out by the federal government. The demonstration was organized by residents displaced from the former fire brigade camp at Wadajir district, who accused Qoor Qoor of breaking his promise to provide them with alternative land after their homes were demolished. In April last year, the president himself had addressed these same families, assuring them they would be allocated permanent land for resettlement.
As the Kalsan TV journalists were covering the protest, President Qoor Qoor deployed his security forces to target them while they were carrying out their professional duties. The journalists told SJS that the president’s armed guards abducted, beat, and held them for more than three hours inside Qoor Qoor’s residence in Hodan district. They were eventually released after the security detail deleted the footage they had recorded.
Galmudug President’s communication team did not respond to SJS calls seeking answers regarding the journalists’ case.
On 28 August 2025, plainclothes officers of the Somalia National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) unlawfully detained Feysal Abdi Farah, a reporter for Kalsan TV, and Hassan Mohamed Hashi, a cameraman, while they were covering the rising fish prices at Mogadishu’s fish market in Hamarweyne district.
The journalists told SJS that the armed officers first approached and harassed them while they were interviewing fishmongers, before placing them under arrest. According to Kalsan TV, the journalists were held in an open area of the market for nearly two hours, during which their equipment was confiscated and their recorded content deleted, before they were eventually released.
This attack adds to the growing number of cases in which newly deployed NISA officers in Mogadishu have repeatedly targeted journalists—and even ordinary citizens—for speaking out or criticizing the authorities. As a result, many local media houses have become increasingly reluctant to send their crews into the streets to carry out reporting assignments.
On 28 August, online journalist Farhan Mohamed Barale reported that he received threats of arrest and intimidation from the Dayniile police commander, Captain Ahmed Ali Yalahow, following his reporting on insecurity and armed robberies in the Dayniile district of Mogadishu. The journalist stated that he received phone calls from Captain Yalahow threatening him with arrest. Farhan also posted publicly on his Facebook account, warning his family and friends that if he were to “disappear or face harm”, it would be the responsibility of Captain Yalahow.
On 27 August, a female journalist working for the online platform Dalbile TV, Anisa Ahmed, was arrested at Dayniile police station for a day after Captain Yalahow’s men brought her there. She had been detained following her report on armed robbery incidents including one she was a victim in the Dayniile district.
Captain Yalahow did not respond to calls from SJS. However, SJS reviewed a statement he posted on his personal Facebook account on 25 August, two days after the Dalbile TV report. In the post, Captain Yalahow appeared to acknowledge the occurrence of armed robberies in his district and even urged locals to report such incidents to the police.
“We strongly condemn the assault, threats, live gunfire, and the kidnapping of journalists Jafar Mohamed Jimale and Abdimajid Abdirahman, both working for Kalsan TV. We demand answers from President Qoor Qoor’s office in Galmudug and call for accountability for the security officers who kidnapped and assaulted the journalists,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.
“SJS also condemns the unlawful detention of Feysal Abdi Farah and Hassan Mohamed Hashi by NISA, as well as the threats and intimidation against Farhan Mohamed Barale, all targeted simply for their journalism work,” added Mr. Mumin. “Targeting media professionals for doing their jobs is unacceptable and undermines press freedom in Somalia. We call on the Mogadishu authorities to immediately investigate these incidents, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure the safety of journalists so they can report freely without fear of harassment or violence.”