In a new report released on Tuesday, GFC said the arrests were carried out by the Somali Police Force and the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).

According to the organization, those detained appear to have been targeted solely for expressing opinions critical of the authorities or publishing content considered unfavorable to the Federal Government.

GFC said the arrests come amid heightened political tensions following the controversial extension of the mandates of the president whose mandate has ended Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Federal Parliament, whose constitutional terms expired in May 2026 and April 2026, respectively.

Opposition groups and civil society organizations have argued that the extensions have deepened political divisions and raised concerns over democratic governance.

Among the cases highlighted in the report is the arrest of 10 young social media influencers on June 28, after police accused them of promoting “indecent behavior” and content allegedly supporting homosexuality.

During a press conference at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Mogadishu, police spokesperson Abdifatah Aden Hassan said security agencies were pursuing additional suspects.

GFC said it had verified the identities of seven of those arrested, including one minor: Abdiqani Mohamed Dalmar (32), Abdulle Mohamed Abdi (30), Khusey Said Dahir (19), Ahmed Abdullahi Mumin (16), Abdiladiif Muuse Abdi (43), Abas Rufaaci Osman (19), and Farhan Ahmed Abuukar (19).

According to police sources cited by the organization, three of the original detainees have since been released without charge, while the remaining seven continue to be held. Family members told GFC the detainees are content creators on TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, where they primarily produced entertainment content.

The report also raises concerns over the detention of Mascuud Warsame, founder of the Mogadishu-based online news outlet Xogbile, who was allegedly taken by NISA officers on the night of June 30 shortly after leaving his office. GFC said NISA has neither acknowledged his detention nor disclosed the legal basis for his arrest.

According to the organization, Warsame remains in custody without charge and has not been brought before a court. Xogbile has frequently published reports critical of the recently installed South West State administration in Baidoa, which is backed by the Federal Government.

Another case highlighted is that of Mohamed Ali Mohamud, widely known as Qadaaye, a reporter for Iftiimiye TV, who was arrested on June 26 after reporting on a police officer who claimed senior officials had unlawfully suspended his salary.

GFC said Mohamud was detained for three days without charge before being released, while the police officer interviewed in the report was also reportedly arrested.

The organization further criticized the arrest of journalist Abdukadir Abukar Ali, known as Diirshe, who was detained on June 25 while covering proceedings at the Banadir Regional Court during the trial of women’s rights activist Sadia Moalin Ali.

Shortly before his arrest, Diirshe had published a video questioning the fairness of Sadia’s trial.

Banadir Regional Police Commander Mahdi Omar Mumin, known as Moalin Mahdi, later confirmed the arrest on Facebook, accusing the journalist of insulting the country’s judicial institutions.

According to GFC, Diirshe was held incommunicado for three days before being brought before a court and released on bail on June 28. However, the charges against him remain pending. The organization argued that such prosecutions are increasingly being used to intimidate journalists and discourage critical reporting.

GFC also expressed concern over the continued imprisonment of Sadia Moalin Ali, who was arrested on April 12, 2026, after participating in a peaceful protest in Mogadishu.

She was sentenced to three years in prison on June 25, a decision the organization says violates Somalia’s Provisional Constitution and its international human rights obligations protecting freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

“The Geeska Freedom Centre calls on the Federal Government of Somalia to end the arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance and intimidation of journalists, media workers and social media users, and immediately and unconditionally release all individuals detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” said GFC Director Abdalle Ahmed Mumin.

The organization said it will continue monitoring the cases and urged Somalia’s international partners to publicly press the Federal Government to end what it described as an assault on civic space and to uphold the country’s constitutional and international human rights commitments.

The Federal Government, Somali Police Force, and NISA had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in GFC’s report at the time of publication.

The authorities have previously maintained that security operations and arrests are carried out in accordance with Somali law and are intended to protect public order and national security.

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According to a statement released by the police, the journalist was detained over content he allegedly published on social media criticizing Somalia’s judicial institutions. Authorities said the posts contained remarks that they believe went beyond the boundaries of lawful expression and undermined the reputation and integrity of the country’s justice system.

Police further accused Diirshe Ali of disseminating what they described as false information, engaging in misleading propaganda, and publishing material deemed harmful to public security, stability, and social order.

The statement maintained that such actions are contrary to the laws governing public communication and responsible media practice.

The Somali Police Force emphasized that freedom of expression and media independence are rights protected under Somali law. However, authorities stressed that these freedoms must be exercised within the framework of national legislation, professional ethics, and the broader responsibility to preserve public security and social cohesion.

The statement also warned media practitioners, social media users, and members of the public against spreading misinformation, fabricated reports, or content considered harmful to national security and public order. Police said anyone found violating the law through the misuse of media platforms would be subject to legal action.

The arrest has drawn attention among journalists and media rights advocates, many of whom have closely followed recent debates surrounding freedom of the press, judicial accountability, and the limits of public criticism of state institutions.

Observers note that the case is likely to fuel further discussion about the balance between protecting freedom of expression and enforcing laws related to public order and defamation.

Authorities said Abdullahi Abukar Ali is expected to be brought before the relevant judicial bodies in accordance with Somalia’s legal procedures, where the allegations against him will be examined through the country’s court system.

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The detained journalists are: Abdishakur Mohamed Mohamuud, a journalist with Somali Stream, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul, Secretary for Information and Human Rights at the Somali Journalists Syndicate – SJS  and Abdihafid Nur Barre, a staff member of Somali Cable TV.

The three journalists were arrested while they were in central Mogadishu, where they had gathered socially.

Sources familiar with the matter said that authorities have not yet officially disclosed the reason for their arrest or the location where they are being held, raising serious concern.

So far, no statement has been issued by the security agencies regarding the arrests.

The detention of these journalists is being linked to the ongoing political tensions in the country, particularly in Mogadishu.

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Sharif Shuriye Hashi, 35, who worked as a journalist for Universal TV in Somalia, was arrested from his home in Jowhar on December 8th.

He was taken into custody by forces from the Hirshabelle State Police. According to journalists in Jowhar, the arrest was led by Hassan Jabshe, the deputy commander of the Jowhar Police Station.

Sharif’s recently married wife, Hamdi Muse Digow, also 35, was arrested on the same day. Both of them remain in police custody.

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A colleague of Andar told Kaab TV that the journalist was taken into custody at the headquarters of Hargeisa’s police investigation unit.

The reasons for Andar’s arrest have not yet been disclosed.

Since President Irro took office, there has been a noticeable increase in the detention of journalists in Somaliland.

Media organizations have reported that, over the past ten months, cases of journalists being arrested have risen sharply, raising concerns about the state of press freedom in Somaliland.

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On Friday afternoon, Abdillahi was reporting on a demonstration in Mogadishu’s Yaqshid district. Residents had gathered to protest planned relocations and land grabbing in the area. Armed police attempted to disperse the protesters by opening fire, tragically killing two civilians, including a 20-year-old peaceful protester, according to media reports. The order to disperse and shoot the protesters is reported to have come from the Banadir Regional Police Commissioner, Mahdi Omar Mu’min, known as Macalin Mahdi.

Witnesses informed SJS that police beat and arrested Abdillahi while he was reporting on the demonstration. Omar Yusuf Mohamed, a colleague, managed to escape. Abdillahi was initially detained by police and then transferred to the Yaqshid District Station, where he remained in custody until Monday afternoon. His family was denied access to him. Abdillahi told SJS that on Saturday, 22 November, he was forcibly questioned by a police prosecutor without a lawyer present.

On Monday, 24 November, Abdillahi was brought before the Banadir Regional Court and charged with “organizing protesters” and “inciting the public.” He was later released due to a lack of evidence. During the court hearing, it became clear that Abdillahi had been specifically targeted because of his affiliation with Himilo Media.

Abdillahi further reported that Police Prosecutor Nouradin Mohamed Hussein (Jim’ale) confiscated his phone and demanded its password. The prosecutor allegedly expressed anger, stating repeatedly that Banadir Regional Police Chief Macalin Mahdi “hates journalists working at Himilo Media.”

Although Abdillahi was released, Himilo Media management informed SJS that their equipment—including digital cameras, microphones, tripods, and lighting—would not be returned. When staff attempted to retrieve the equipment late on Monday, they were told it had been ordered kept by Police Chief Maallin Mahdi.

A disturbing trend of targeting vulnerable groups has emerged recently. Various sources indicate that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his political and business associates are involved in exploiting public land sales, government property, and sometimes even private lands, often forcibly taking them from rightful owners. Journalists reporting on evictions are frequently targeted, while many local media outlets remain silent to avoid repercussions.

The incident on 21 November occurred on land in Yaqshid district that was originally government-owned and converted into a residential area in 1960. Many local residents possess ownership documents issued by the former Somali government. Local media, including Himilo TV, reported that businessmen and government officials were attempting to illegally occupy the land and evict the community.

“This arrest, the detention, and the baseless trial of our colleague Abdillahi Mohamed Ali (Sawey) of Himilo Media constitute an unacceptable attack on press freedom. Reporting forced relocations—an issue of public interest and human rights—is not a crime; it is a fundamental duty of journalists,” said SJS General Secretary Abdalle Muumin.

He added, “We demand that the Mogadishu Police and their leadership immediately stop this campaign against journalists. The abuse of government power to silence media outlets like Himilo TV, which expose corruption, must end. We also call for the immediate and unconditional return of all confiscated equipment held illegally by Police Chief Maallin Mahdi. Journalists will not remain silent in the face of illegal detention or seizure of their tools.”

Earlier, on 16 November, a group of journalists—including Abdillahi Mohamed Ali and Abdullahi Abd Qadir Ahmed of Himilo Media, freelancer Abrahman Mohamed Waberi, and Ali Hassan Guure, a cameraman from Risala Media, along with his colleague Hamda Ahmed Hassan—were stopped by National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) officers while collecting vox-pop interviews about disputed elections in Somalia. The journalists were initially taken to a nearby police station but released before arrival. They reported that they were required to pay for the taxi used to reach the station, after which they were released.

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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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