MOGADISHU (KAAB TV) — August 3, 2025 — The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) has issued a strong condemnation following the abduction and torture of three journalists by members of the Turkish-trained Haramcad police unit in Mogadishu on Sunday.
According to verified reports and CCTV footage, at approximately 5:07 PM local time, two marked police vehicles — including a Toyota Prado Land Cruiser — arrived outside the offices of SMS Somali TV. The armed officers, identified as members of the Haramcad force, forcibly apprehended Osman Abdullahi Mohamed (reporter and photographer for SMS), Hussein Isse (SMS reporter), and Mahad (journalist for SMS). Eyewitnesses and video evidence show that the journalists were not only detained but also subjected to physical abuse during the arrest.
The journalists had recently returned from covering a sensitive and politically charged story involving the forced eviction of residents from public land in Mogadishu. The evictions, allegedly ordered by security forces loyal to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, were reportedly carried out to clear land that had been sold to private businessmen. Their coverage highlighted the plight of displaced families and questioned the legality and ethics of the removals — a report that evidently attracted the wrath of those in power.
Shortly before the arrest, the journalists were reportedly being followed by unmarked vehicles. After arriving back at their offices and stepping out of their car, they were ambushed by two uniformed men — one wielding an AK-47 assault rifle — who quickly forced them into one of the waiting police vehicles, which was equipped with a mounted machine gun.
According to the SJS, the operation was led by Commander Abdi Ali, a controversial figure who currently serves as the head of city control in Mogadishu. Notably, Commander Ali has a checkered past — he previously defected from the militant group Al-Shabaab before joining government forces, and was implicated in the March 2025 raid on Risaala Radio, another media outlet critical of the government.
The three journalists were taken to Hamar Jajab Police Station, but as of Monday morning, their arrests had yet to be officially recorded in the police logbooks — a troubling sign of what human rights advocates say is a growing pattern of extrajudicial action against members of the press.
“The Somali Journalists Syndicate is gravely concerned about the safety of journalists in Somalia, especially those reporting on politically sensitive issues such as forced evictions, corruption, and government abuses,” the SJS said in a statement. “The continued harassment, torture, and arbitrary detention of journalists must end immediately.”
CCTV footage obtained by SMS Somali TV shows the exact moment the reporters were apprehended, lending credibility to claims of targeted intimidation. Meanwhile, opposition Members of Parliament who had earlier been with the journalists managed to return safely to their offices, narrowly avoiding arrest themselves.
The SJS is calling for the immediate release of the detained journalists and has urged the Somali federal government and international human rights bodies to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable.
This latest incident adds to an already dangerous climate for press freedom in Somalia, where journalists regularly face threats, censorship, and violence for their work.
Mahad Mohamed A/rahman was released the same evening, while Osman Abdullahi Mohamed and Hussein Issa Mohamed were detained until Tuesday afternoon, without being charged with any crime. They told SJS that all the footage they recorded while on the job had been removed and deleted. As a result, the story they reported was never published because something was missing.
Forced displacement – which has been ongoing since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud returned to power in May 2022 – has recently risen to an unprecedented level. On the night of August 2, violence erupted when local militias living in the Deniile district of Mogadishu clashed in an attempt to stop the evictions. The eviction involves wealthy individuals and business firms, including a local bank.
In Wardhiigley district, there is still a clash between two armed groups in the Sinai market: Turkish-trained Haramed Police and Eagle units who were carrying out the eviction, and another group consisting of XDS troops and guards aligned with opposition members of the government who are resisting the housing.