MOGADISHU – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) strongly denounces the harassment, intimidation, and unlawful detention of journalists in Laascaanood, including the forced deletion of published material and the coercion of journalist Abdirisaq Abdirahman, known as Kobciye, into recording apology videos under duress.

On 21 February, police officers in Laascaanood detained Raxanreeb Media journalist Abdirisaq Abdirahman, known as Kobciye, and forced him to delete a video report that his outlet had broadcast days earlier.

On 17 February, Raxanreeb Media, where Abdirisaq Kobciye works, published a video clip in which construction laborers in Laascaanood complained about low wages and alleged that foreign workers were taking over their jobs because they were paid half the rates local laborers would normally charge.

The laborers had held a press conference in Laascaanood, which the media covered.

According to Abdirisaq Kobciye and the founder of Raxanreeb Media, Farah Atto, police began trailing Abdirisaq and raided his office in the city center, confiscating three cameras and two laptops. On the afternoon of 17 February, the police went to Abdirisaq Kobciye’s home, where officers harassed his family members.

After three days in hiding, Abdirisaq Kobciye was taken to a police station in Laascaanood on Saturday, 21 February, where he was forced to delete the video from Raxanreeb’s Facebook platform and record a clip “apologizing to the police.” The clip was later posted on a Facebook page associated with the police.

Abdirisaq Kobciye told SJS that he was coerced into recording the video.

Although he was initially informed that clan elders were attempting to resolve the matter with the police, he was taken to the police station with a mobile phone already recording and told that he would not be released unless he recorded the apology video, which he ultimately did.

Meanwhile, on the same day, 21 February, Laascaanood police briefly arrested Mowliid Ismaaciil of Halbeeg Media after he recorded protests by local community members in Laascaanood who were opposing a planned forced eviction allegedly linked to the mayor of Laascaanood. He was released after spending two hours in police custody and after all video clips were deleted.

“The forced deletion of published content, confiscation of equipment, and coercion of journalist Abdirisaq Kobciye into recording apology videos under duress are blatant violations of press freedom and cannot be tolerated,” said SJS Secretary General Abdalle Ahmed Mumin. “Journalists must not be punished for reporting on issues of public interest. What happened in Laascaanood is an abuse of authority and a dangerous attempt to silence independent media.”

He added, “We call on the Northeastern authorities in Laascaanood to immediately end these unlawful practices, return confiscated equipment, and ensure that security forces stop interfering with the work of journalists. Those responsible for harassing and intimidating media workers must be held accountable. Press freedom is not a privilege granted by authorities — it is a fundamental right that must be protected.”

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The raid was carried out by armed members of the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in an apparent attempt to remove an interview deemed critical of the disputed federal electoral commission.

According to two journalists who spoke to SJS, at around 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, 12 June, fourteen armed NISA officers arrived at the Himilo Somali TV studio on Maka Al-Mukarama Road. Eight officers entered the premises while six remained stationed at the gate. The journalists, who were present inside the studio at the time, said the armed men terrorized the staff. The journalists locked themselves inside an office and refused to open the door. The NISA agents then contacted the station’s manager who were not inside at the time and demanded the removal of an interview broadcast earlier that morning.

In the interview seen by SJS, a young man revealed he had been “abducted from the street by armed men affiliated with the disputed electoral commission” in Mogadishu and was “forcibly registered as a voter without his consent”. The man expressed frustration, saying he felt “powerless and later tore up the registration documents” in protest.

A senior manager at Himilo Somali TV told SJS that the NISA agents also demanded the contact information of the young man interviewed—information the station refused to provide. The officers eventually left the studio but threatened to track down the television editor.  At the time of publication, the interview, which SJS had reviewed, remained available online.

This raid is not an isolated incident. It is part of an ongoing pattern of attacks targeting media outlets and journalists perceived as critical of the electoral commission.

The commission members were appointed in late November 2024 by the council of the ministers, and in December, they announced the selection of Abdikarin Ahmed Hassan, a close ally of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, as their chairman. Multiple sources confirm that Abdikarin holds dual Somali-American citizenship. His appointment and the commission’s voter registration activities have been strongly rejected by opposition groups and regional states, including Puntland and Jubbaland.

• On 5 May 2025, NISA agents raided a residential home and media studio in Mogadishu’s Shibis district belonging to journalists Bashir Ali Shire and Mohamed Omar Baakaay. The journalists had previously spoken out about the abduction of “vulnerable women and youth” and their forced registration as voters. The attack occurred one day after Farah Adani, the Commissioner of Mogadishu’s Karaan district and a known supporter of the president, publicly incited violence against journalists. Adani urged supporters to “take machetes and sticks,” “break the journalist’s bones,” and even demanded “bring him in handcuffs.” He also labeled the journalist a “drug addict” and “worse than terrorists.” Following the threats, Mohamed Omar Baakaay went into hiding. Adani, now a member of the president’s new political party, later issued a public apology.
• On 28 May, Turkish-trained Haramcad forces in Mogadishu’s Kaxda district targeted three journalists: Nuh Farah Mahad (Reporter, RTN TV), Mohamed Abdukadir (Cameraman, RTN TV), Mohamed Abdi Hassan (Reporter, Five Somali TV). The journalists were covering a protest led by local elders who had been excluded from the controversial voter registration process. Shortly after the elders’ press conference, the journalists were attacked by armed officers. They were detained for nearly an hour, threatened, and ordered to surrender their equipment. They were later released after a group of clan elders intervened. The journalists reported that NISA gunmen attempted to shoot at them with pistols. That same day, RTN TV reported that police were conducting door-to-door raids in Kaxda, forcing residents to register as voters.
• In another incident on 26 May, journalists from multiple media outlets were attacked while reporting in Kaxda on the alleged abduction of local laborers by NISA. These laborers—primarily porters and construction workers—were lured with promises of employment, then locked up and forcibly registered as voters, according to media reports.
• A similar occurrence took place at Bakara Market, where journalists were threatened and had their equipment confiscated while documenting cases of alleged forced voter registration in May. Several street vendors and shop owners reported being abducted by NISA and compelled to register against their will, media reported.
• During this month (June 2025), media continued to report increasing incidents of forced voter registration affecting ordinary citizens—including students, teachers, and pedestrians. Victims report being stopped in public and having their photos taken without consent. Affected areas include Bakara Market, neighborhoods in Hodan District, and along Industrial Road, which connects to Dayniile, Yaaqshiid, and Huriwa districts.

SJS attempted to contact Abdikarin Ahmed Hassan for comment, but he was unavailable.

“The ongoing intimidation, raids, and threats against independent journalists and media outlets in Mogadishu who dare to report critically on the disputed voter registration process represent a dangerous escalation in the crackdown on press freedom in Somalia,” said Abdalle Mumin, Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS).

“Targeting journalists for exposing voter manipulation and abuse of power is not only unlawful—it undermines democratic principles, silences the voices of the Somali people, and erodes public trust in the system. We call on those involved to immediately end these attacks, hold all responsible parties accountable, and allow the media to report on violations freely and independently,” adds Mr. Mumin.

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These actions constitute a blatant assault on press freedom and the public’s right to access and disseminate information. SJS calls on Somali authorities to immediately end these repressive measures and uphold the constitutional rights of journalists.

On Thursday, 22 May, Somali police in Mogadishu briefly arrested three journalists: Abdullahi Yusuf Hassan (reporter for RNN TV), Mohamed Hassan Geedi (cameraman for RNN TV), and Yahye Mohamud Hersi (cameraman for Himilo Somali TV). Two of the journalists told SJS that after their arrest, they were handed over to officers from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), who then transferred them to the Hodan District Administration office, where they were detained.

Anisa Abdiaziz Hussein, a reporter for Himilo Somali TV who was with the arrested journalists, told SJS she fled on foot after witnessing armed men attacking the journalists. The journalists had been covering a protest by local women meat sellers at the Zoobe Junction in Mogadishu, who were demonstrating against the demolition of their makeshift stalls.

According to the journalists, NISA officers confiscated their equipment and deleted the footage they had recorded. An editor at Himilo Somali TV told SJS they later received a threatening phone call from a NISA officer warning them not to broadcast anything related to the women’s protest or the demolitions. All three journalists said they were released later that afternoon under the condition that they do not publish any content about the protest or the demolitions—an agreement they were forced to accept in order to secure their release.

On Friday night, 23 May, police officers from Galmudug State in South Galkayo arrested online reporter Ali Maalin Nuur after he published a news report on his Facebook page about truck drivers and their vehicles being held at a roadblock outside Galkayo city, Mudug region. In the now-deleted video clip, the journalist reported that armed men at the roadblock—identified as members of the Galmudug security forces—had been demanding additional payments from the truck drivers, causing the trucks to be stranded for several days. Armed police officers raided the journalist’s house on Friday night and arrested him.

Ali Maalin Nuur told SJS that his arrest was ordered by the Governor of Mudug in Galmudug, Abdinasir Abdukadir Abdulle. He told SJS that he was detained overnight at the South Galkayo police station, and his name was not recorded in the occurrence book (OB). He was released on Saturday afternoon after being forced by the officers to delete the video from his Facebook page, which he did. Ali told SJS that he was not taken to court and believed he would not have received justice, as the police had threatened to keep him in custody if he refused to delete the report.  A senior official from the Galmudug State Ministry of Information told SJS that although the journalist had been released, they were following up with the governor who ordered the arrest, which the official described as illegal.

On Saturday, 24 May, agents of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) briefly detained four journalists in Mogadishu: Abdinasir Abduqadir Salah and Abdinasir Sayid Ali from Shabelle TV, and Abdirahman Abdulle Rooble and Hassan Ahmed Takow from SYL TV.  The journalists were collecting vox-pop interviews from the public on Maka Al-Mukarama Street, asking for opinions on the coalition of opposition politicians who had held an event in Mogadishu the previous day, Friday. They were taken to an open area near the Waberi Police Station, where they were interrogated, threatened, and ordered to delete their footage. Two of the journalists told SJS they were threatened with violence if they continued reporting critically on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

All four journalists were released without being officially booked or charged at the police station.

On Friday, 23 May, political opposition groups led by former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former Prime Ministers Hassan Ali Khaire and Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, and other members of parliament gathered at a mosque and religious site in Mogadishu. During the gathering, they delivered a public speech—widely broadcast by the media—condemning President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s autocratic actions in relation to the 2026 election. They called on the president to return to constitutional order.

On Saturday, 24 May, NISA agents in Mogadishu briefly arrested seven journalists while they were collecting public opinion on the country’s political situation. Two of the journalists, Ismail Yabarow Hassan and Mohamed Adan Hassan, were working for Somali Cable TV.  Four others—Ja’far Abdirisak Mohamed, Shukri Hashi, Ayanle Abdinur, and Sundus Ali Botan—were working for Goobjoog Media, while the seventh journalist, Abdirahman Ahmed Hassan, is a cameraman for Five Somali TV.

The journalists had been gathering public views on the political developments in Mogadishu and the recent statement by opposition politicians concerning the 2026 election. Somali Cable TV reported that their journalists were stopped by NISA officers and told they were “not allowed to conduct public opinion on the streets.”  All seven journalists had their equipment confiscated and their recorded material deleted. They were also warned not to conduct further interviews with the public. As a result, the journalists returned to their respective media outlets without completing their assignments.

On Saturday, 24 May, Anisa Ahmed Mohamed and Masud Abdirahman Yusuf, both working for Dalbile online TV, were conducting interviews when plain-clothed, armed NISA officers interrupted and chased them away from Maka Al-Mukarama Street. After the journalists left the area, the officers followed them to another location and again disrupted an interview they were conducting with members of the public. The journalists had been asking people for their views on the current political tension, following a recent statement by opposition groups condemning President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s actions in relation to the 2026 election.

Local media reported an increased presence of plain-clothed NISA agents armed with pistols along Maka Al-Mukarama Road, a popular area where journalists often gather public opinion. Journalists have reported their independent reporting has been effectively banned in areas surrounding Maka Al-Mukarama, including KM4. Media also reported the arrest of a prominent tuk-tuk driver and activist, Sayid Ali—commonly known as Saan Miyaa—who had spoken out against the growing suppression of the public by NISA agents.

“In the past 48 hours, we have witnessed a new wave of attacks against journalists in Mogadishu, carried out by members of NISA and the police. The arrest of 14 journalists—13 in Mogadishu and one in Galkayo—along with equipment seizure, deletion of content by the threat of violence and intimidation, marks an alarming escalation of repression that undermines press freedom and the very foundation of democracy in Somalia,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“These attacks on media workers are unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms. As we have said, these violations will not end until the perpetrators are held accountable,” added Mr. Mumin. “All journalists and media organizations need to stand united in defense of our rights and freedoms. We need action now. Let us also remind those behind these attacks that they will not get away with it; if not today, then certainly not tomorrow.”

(Source: SJS)

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The meeting brought together press freedom advocates, representatives from International Media Support (IMS), officials from the Ministry of Information who have been targeting journalists including SJS, and members of the diplomatic community.

Participants voiced alarm over the increasing repression targeting Somali journalists, particularly those based in Mogadishu, and the broader erosion of press freedom across the country.

The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) expressed grave concern over the escalating attacks on journalists, SJS members, and independent media houses. These attacks have intensified following public threats issued by government officials from the police and the the Ministry of Information.

“Since the statement by the Minister of Information Daud Aweis Jama and the Mogadishu Police Commissioner, Moalim Mahdi on 6 March 2025, attacks on journalists have significantly increased. Press freedom is dying in Somalia. We are deeply concerned that the Somali government—specifically the Ministry of Information, police forces, and the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA)—is deliberately targeting journalists for their independent reporting,” said Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul, SJS Secretary of Information and Human Rights, during the meeting.

Reporting on security issues including threats posed by Al-Shabaab terror group, government corruption and human rights abuses remain a red line for journalists in Somalia, particularly in Mogadishu.

The 6 March statement by Minister Daud Aweis and Mogadishu Police Commissioner Mahdi Omar Muumin (known as Moalim Mahdi who is also an ex-defector of Al-Shabaab), which openly threatened “severe punishment” media outlets against publishing any reporting related to security has triggered a new wave of suppression.

Participants also highlighted the growing intimidation of journalists working for state media in Mogadishu, many of whom have faced threats, suspensions, and dismissals for critical reporting or expressing independent views.

Serious concern was raised regarding threats against women journalists, including threats of sexual violence and other security risks, which have become increasingly common.

The diplomatic community was urged to stand in support of press freedom advocacy and to take meaningful steps to ensure the safety and protection of Somali journalists.

Between 1 January and 30 April 2025, a total of 46 journalists were arrested or detained across Somalia, according to SJS documentation. Journalist Mohamed Abukar Dabaashe was killed in Al-Shabaab bombing in Mogadishu on 18 March. Additionally, two journalists were kidnapped and have since disappeared in Lower Shabelle, Southwest State. Both government forces and Al-Shabaab have contributed to an increasingly hostile environment for the press, marked by physical attacks, arbitrary arrests, killings, and online censorship.

State security forces and police—many of whom are former Al-Shabaab defectors—were behind most of the raids, arrests, and intimidation incidents. NISA continued its practice of unlawful detentions and harassment, particularly in Mogadishu. Of the 46 arrests so far, 41 occurred in Mogadishu alone, underscoring how Mogadishu remains a dangerous place for journalists.

Reflecting today’s engagement, the SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin, thanked the diplomatic community for their efforts and reiterated a strong call for media freedom as a cornerstone of democracy, peacebuilding, and efforts to counter violent extremism.

“I take this opportunity to remind Somalia’s international partners that there can be no democratic Somalia unless we have a strong and independent media, and the international community must act to defend free media. Accountability is key to ending this cycle of violence subjected to the journalist community in Somalia including SJS members. Let us make no mistake: those who target journalists must be held accountable, no matter how powerful they are or whether they command armed groups,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

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In recent months, freedom of the press in Somalia has  significantly deteriorated, while security challenges continue to rise. The Al-Shabaab militant group has recently escalated its campaign on Mogadishu and surrounding areas, launching raids and planting bombs in key civilian areas. In response, the authorities announced a ban on any reporting concerning the security situation in Mogadishu, which has left a large information gap for Somali citizens.

This illegal ban on reportage on the security situation has been used as a pretext to suppress press freedom in Somalia. Earlier this month, Somali Police arrested Feisal Omar (Reuters) for reporting on a protest by the Somali Bantu minority community, and the directors of a local outlet, Shabelle Media, Abukar Sheik Mohamud and Mahmud Abdinasir Soofeeysane, for hosting an interview on insecurity in Mogadishu.

This recent trend began in February 2025 after journalists reported on the United States embassy’s security alert regarding imminent attacks in Mogadishu. The local police commissioner in Mogadishu threatened to detain “anyone who reports on security issues in a hot and dark cell with no lights.” On March 18, after an Al-Shabaab bombing targeting the Somali President’s convoy outside the presidential palace, which sadly claimed the life of journalist Mohamed Abukar Dabaashe, Somali police arrested nineteen journalists from both local and international outlets who were on the scene to report the news. In addition, the police raided and shut down the offices of Risaala Media Corporation without a warrant after Risaala Media’s reporting on the bombing. Five other journalists were arrested and taken to the local police station for interrogation before being released with a warning not to report on security issues.

On March 25, journalist Ibrahim Mohamed Mayow was forcibly disappeared by armed officers linked to the regional police commissioner after reporting on an Al-Shabaab attack in the town of Afgooye, outside of Mogadishu. Mr. Mayow was summoned by the police commissioner after he published a video showing the aftermath of the mortar attack. Although local journalists went to the Afgooye police station to inquire about his whereabouts, the station informed them that they did not have him in custody. SJS confirms that Mr. Mayow was held in an undisclosed location until March 28, when he was driven to Mogadishu and thrown out of the car. The Somali police, who were responsible for his abduction, never issued any statement regarding his kidnapping or release.

Even journalists who were reporting on issues unrelated to the security situation have been caught up in the net of repression. On March 15, after journalist Bahjo Abdullahi Salad reported on leftover food and waste being dumped in a neighborhood in Mogadishu, agents from the National Intelligence and Security Agency raided her home, arrested her, and interrogated her for four hours. Her report was seen as a criticism of the Prime Minister, who had attended an event nearby that contributed to the dumping, and she was only freed after other journalists protested her detention.

“We are deeply alarmed by the escalating attacks on journalists across Somalia and the worsening security situation facing the media. The recent attacks on journalists in Mogadishu by Somalia’s police and national intelligence (NISA) and the death of journalist Mohamed Abukar Dabaashe in an Al-Shabaab bombing in Mogadishu, which also claimed the lives of innocent civilians, is a tragic reminder of the dangers journalists face while informing the public,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin. “Somali authorities must end this culture of silencing critical voices and ensure journalists can work without fear of violence, arrest, or intimidation.”

“The ban on reportage around security issues is not a permissible limitation to the right to freedom of speech under human rights law,” said Ikechukwu Uzoma, senior staff attorney at RFK Human Rights. “Somali authorities must begin to see a free press as a critical part of the advancement of peace and security in the country—journalism is not a crime,” he added.

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SJS is deeply honored that our Secretary General, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, has been named among this year’s distinguished 2025 finalists. [Read finalists here]

Beyond his role at SJS, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin has relentlessly dedicated his life to defending press freedom, promoting transparency, and standing up for human rights in Somalia—often at grave personal risk. He has faced imprisonment, torture, threats, and endless persecution simply for speaking truth to power.

“Abdalle Mumin was imprisoned because of his unwavering commitment to defending human rights and press freedom in Somalia. His selection as one of this year’s finalists for the Allard Prize is more than a personal achievement—it is a powerful symbol of hope for the thousands of Somali journalists and human rights defenders who continue to endure threats, harassment, and oppression,” said Mohamed Ibrahim, President of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS). “Abdalle’s courage fuels a new generation of truth-tellers and justice seekers. His recognition not only honors his sacrifice but also reinforces SJS’s commitment to our critical mission—pursuing press freedom, defending journalists, and promoting human rights with even greater determination and resilience.”

His selection as one of this year’s finalists for the Allard Prize is more than a personal achievement—it is a powerful symbol of hope for the thousands of Somali journalists and human rights defenders who continue to endure threats, harassment, and oppression,” – Mohamed Ibrahim, SJS President.

“Let us be absolutely clear: If Abdalle Mumin wins this award, it will be a resounding recognition of his bravery, unwavering dedication, and personal sacrifice in defense of human rights, government accountability, and media freedom. It will undoubtedly inspire thousands of journalists and human rights defenders across Somalia and beyond,” adds Mr. Ibrahim. “Moreover, it will send an unmistakable message to those who seek to silence truth and oppress freedom—that the world is watching, and it stands firmly with those who dare to speak out.”

The entire SJS network of journalists and community of defenders stand proudly beside our Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin, and reaffirms our unwavering commitment to advancing press freedom, protecting journalists, and promoting human rights.  We also extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Abdalle on this remarkable recognition.

The Allard Prize, named after Peter A. Allard, a Canadian lawyer and renowned human rights champion, recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and courage in combating corruption and defending human rights.

The Allard Prize Award Ceremony will be held on June 17, 2025, at Tribeca Rooftop in New York City, U.S, where the winner will receive a $100,000 CAD prize.

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At approximately 8:40 PM local time, around 10 armed police officers arrived at Bulbul’s residence, questioning family members about his whereabouts. Bulbul was not at home, but the armed men harassed his family and remained outside for several hours. Later that night, a known police informant was seen near the residence.

On 8 March, Mohamed Bulbul published a four-part interview with a former inmate and victim of the Somalia National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA)’s notorious underground prison on his Facebook page, which has 206,000 followers.  In the interview, the victim described torture and sexual violence against prisoners in NISA detention facility known as Godka Jila’ow where government critics and journalists are held.

Shortly after the interview was published, Bulbul received calls from police and NISA officers demanding its removal, which he refused.

Additionally, Bulbul reported on Mogadishu residents’ concerns over Al-Shabaab presence near the capital, warning of potential threats to civilian safety and calling for government action.

According to Bulbul, his reporting came after statement from the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu issued a security alert on 4 March 4, stating: “The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu is tracking credible information related to potential imminent attacks against multiple locations in Somalia, including Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport. All movements of U.S. Embassy Mogadishu personnel have been canceled until further notice.” Also, the U.S. Embassy in Kenya had issued a statement on 27 February, announcing: “The U.S. Government has made the decision to not use Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu for official U.S. Embassy Mogadishu travelers until further notice. We will send updates as appropriate.”

These U.S. statements were widely covered by local journalists in Somalia, including Bulbul. Following this, several airlines have announced the suspension of their direct flights to Mogadishu.

On Monday, 24 March, Mogadishu Police Commander Mahdi Omar Mumin (known as Moalim Mahdi) called Mohamed Bulbul, requesting a meeting and urging him to stop reporting on police and security failures in Mogadishu.

SJS strongly condemns the raid on Bulbul’s residence and the threats against him due to his continuous reporting on critical public interest issues. SJS stands firmly with Mohamed Bulbul and calls on the police and NISA to end the harassment and intimidation against him.

These new threats come at a time when SJS continues its support for local journalists. Just last week alone, journalist Mohamed Abukar Dabaashe was killed in an Al-Shabaab bombing in Mogadishu on Tuesday 18 March, and  24 journalists were arrested briefly by Somali police in Mogadishu while reporting on the Al-Shabaab attack on the Somali president’s convoy.

Radio Risaala was raided and shut down by the police for covering the attack on the president on the same day.

Since Monday this week, journalist Ibrahim Mohamed Mayow, who comes from the marginalised community in Lower Shabelle, has been missing after being abducted in Afgooye, Lower Shabelle, by armed police officers affiliated with Mogadishu Police Commander Moalim Mahdi.

SJS urges the Somali authorities to respect press freedom and immediately cease targeting journalists for their reporting.

“We strongly condemn this outrageous raid and intimidation against SJS Secretary of Information and Human Rights, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul and his family. This is yet another blatant attack on press freedom and an attempt to silence critical journalism in Somalia,” said SJS President, Mohamed Ibrahim “We call for full accountability for those responsible for this raid, including the officers who carried it out and the officials who ordered it.”

“Somalia’s police and national intelligence must immediately cease their harassment of journalists, particularly Mohamed Bulbul, who not only dedicates his time to reporting the truth on the ground but has also devoted enormous efforts to advocating for press freedom and supporting fellow journalists. Instead of targeting journalists, the Somali police and NISA should focus on their actual duty—protecting citizens and ensuring security, not targeting journalists and suppressing the truth,” added Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim.

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On Tuesday, 18 March, the Somali police in Mogadishu briefly arrested 19 journalists from local and international media in the aftermath of an Al-Shabaab bombing attack that targeted President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy outside Villa Somalia, the presidential palace.

The attack resulted in multiple casualties, including journalist Mohamed Abukar Dabaashe. The journalist’s body was laid to rest today, Wednesday, with family and fellow journalists in attendance.

Following the attack, Mogadishu police launched a crackdown on journalists who had gone to the scene to report on the incident. The 19 journalists were detained, loaded onto a police truck, and transported to Hamar Jajab police station. At the station, police confiscated their equipment and deleted their footage and photos before releasing them.

The arrested journalists are:

1. Farah Mohamed Adam – Cameraman, Somali Cable TV
2. Abdiihafid Nor Barre – Reporter, Somali Cable TV
3. Nor Hassan Ali – Cameraman, RTN TV
4. Hamdaan Sheikh Ahmed – Reporter, RTN TV
5. Farhan Abdirisak Dahir – Cameraman, Himilo TV
6. Abdullahi Abdulkadir Dahir – Reporter, Himilo TV
7. Salman Abdirisak Shire – Cameraman, Somali People TV
8. Qasim Abdulle Barrow – Reporter, Somali People TV
9. Salah Osman Bille – Cameraman, RNN TV
10. Abdullahi Yusuf Hassan – Reporter, RNN TV
11. Ayanle Abdi Nuur – Cameraman, Goobjoog TV
12. Rowdo Hassan Abdi – Reporter, Goobjoog TV
13. Abdinasir Abukar Hared – Cameraman, Al Jazeera Arabic
14. Abdirahman Hussein – Camerajournalist, Reuters
15. Farah Abdi Warsame – Photographer, Associated Press
16. Abukar Mohamed Muhidin – Photographer, Anadolu Agency
17. Ismail Hussein Ismail – Cameraman, Dalsan TV
18. Abdisalan Jule Shakir – Reporter, Dalsan TV
19. Abdirahman Mohamed Waaberi – reporter for Daljir Media.

Shortly after these arrests, police raided the Risaala Media Corporation studio, forcibly entering the premises and shutting down both Risaala Radio and its affiliated Risaala TV. Five journalists from Risaala Media were also briefly detained before being released.

This latest crackdown comes just a week after Somali Minister of Information Daud Aweis threatened “legal action and severe punishment” against journalists and media outlets reporting on security failures in Mogadishu amid growing Al-Shabaab attacks in and around the Somali capital.

His statement on 6 March 2025, followed a terror attack warning issued by the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu and the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi respectively.

SJS strongly condemns the brutal Al-Shabaab bombing in Mogadishu, which killed civilians, including journalist Mohamed Abukar Dabaashe. At the same time, we denounce the ruthless crackdown by Somali police on journalists, which severely undermines press freedom. Somali media remains caught between hell and the devil—today, no journalist feels safe in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, as a result of attacks from both sides.

“The Somali government’s crackdown on journalists covering security issues is a blatant attack on press freedom. Arresting reporters, confiscating their equipment, and erasing their footage only serve to silence the truth and obstruct the public’s right to information,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin, “Somali journalists are already risking their lives to report the facts, and this repression makes their work even more dangerous. The government must stop targeting the press and uphold media freedom as a fundamental right.”

“The Cabinet of Ministers must repeal its 6 March statement, which tends to criminalize media reporting on security issues. Police officers in Mogadishu must understand that journalists are there to tell the story—they should not be targeted, arrested, or have their equipment confiscated,” Mr. Mumin added.

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On 9 February 2025, freelance journalist Sharif Abdi, who had been held without a court order by NISA since 25 January 2025, was released. Sharif was kidnapped from Mogadishu’s city center on the night of 25 January by armed NISA officers who tracked his phone, just hours after his home in Waberi district was raided.

He was held and interrogated at Godka Jilaow, NISA’s notorious torture and detention facility at Boondheere neighborhood. According to Sharif and other sources interviewed by SJS, his repeated interrogations focused on his critical reporting on Facebook, particularly posts criticizing NISA chief Abdullahi Mohamed Ali (Sanbalolshe) who holds Somali and British citizenship.

For 10 days, Sharif was confined in a narrow, dark, and hot cell with 20 other inmates, including Al-Shabaab suspects. After 10 days, NISA resumed questioning him, focusing on his recent posts about the NISA chief’s trip to the Hiiraan region, where inter-clan conflicts have affected local communities.

On Sunday afternoon, Sharif was called by officers who informed him that his detention was meant to “discipline him and make him soft so that he won’t write critically in the future.” NISA agents then drove him to the Habar Khadijo building in Shibis district, where he briefly met the NISA chief, Mr. Sanbalolshe. At the meeting, the NISA chief warned him against posting critically in the future before releasing him.

On Friday, 7 February, a government-affiliated clan militia in Lower Shabelle kidnapped journalist Omar Yusuf Mohamed (Omar Guux), who reports for Nabad Somali TV, a Facebook-based news platform. Omar was covering local community complaints about militia raids and detentions targeting civilians in and around KM50, Lower Shabelle region.

Omar Guux told SJS that he was locked in an abandoned makeshift house in KM50 before being freed late on the same Friday. He said the militia interrogated him about his report on the disappearance of a local clan elder, who was taken after the militia raided his home on 31 January.

SJS condemns these horrific attacks on journalists in Mogadishu and Lower Shabelle. We call on all parties to respect press freedom and the independence of journalists, including those exposing NISA’s abuses and the crimes of government-affiliated militias.

“The arbitrary detention and intimidation of journalists like Sharif Abdi and Omar Guux highlight the ongoing threats to press freedom in Somalia. No journalist should be kidnapped, tortured, or threatened for simply doing their job,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“We strongly condemn these acts and demand accountability for those responsible. The authorities must take concrete steps to investigate these violations, hold the perpetrators—whether state security agents or clan militias—accountable, and ensure the safety of all journalists. Press freedom cannot exist where impunity prevails,” Mr. Mumin added.

The post Two Journalists Illegally Held Separately by NISA and Clan Militia Freed appeared first on Kaab TV.

The videos, which sparked violent protests and retaliatory killings across South Sudan, have since been removed, according to a Jan. 27 statement from the National Communications Authority directed at telecom and internet providers.

The country’s telecommunication authority blamed the rise of violence to the social media.

“The rise of violence linked to social media content in South Sudan underscores the need for a balanced approach that addresses the root causes of online incitement while protecting the rights of the population,” said Napoleon Adok Gai, director of the National Communications Authority.

Rights groups have accused the Sudanese army and its allies of carrying out ethnically targeted attacks on civilians in Sudan’s El Gezira state earlier this month, following their capture of Wad Madani, the state capital, from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

In response, the Sudanese army condemned the incidents as “individual violations” captured on video and widely shared on social media.

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