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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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Cameras and television studio equipment, intended to enhance the state television’s capabilities, were stolen by two senior officials of the Ministry of Information, according to a whistleblower within the television studio.

This new development exposes the corruption and misuse of valuable resources meant to empower the country’s media and information dissemination. The stolen equipment includes three Sonny PXW-Z150 4K XDCAM CAMRECORDER and three Blackmagic Studio Camera HD cameras, all part of a generous donation from Finland facilitated in 2019 through VIKES Media Development, a Finnish NGO partnered with the Ministry of Information.

One of the technicians who spoke to Kaab TV recounted seeing the television director and another man from the Deputy Minister’s office at the studio while he was on duty early this month. “They ordered me to leave and after 20 minutes, they emerged from the studio with the big studio cameras donated by the Finnish government to SNTV and went straight to the office of the television director,” he said.

The equipment never returned back.

The value of the missing equipment is estimated to be worth tens of thousands of dollars.

The revelation comes after the Auditor General’s Office recently initiated an investigation into the theft of FM radio transmitters, which were also taken from the state radio premises and sold on the black market by senior officials.

The FM radio transmitters were originally donated by the United Nations to the Ministry of Information several years ago.

Whistleblowers from SNTV have identified the current Director of SNTV, Mohamed Kaafi Abukar, as a co-director of CAFIS, an organization affiliated with the Ministry of Information.

According to insiders, CAFIS has rented a private television studio in the city where the stolen equipment is believed to be kept.

The Ministry of Information has been at the center of allegations related to embezzlement of public funds and fraudulent activities.

The General Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of officials from the Ministry of Information on June 22, 2023, on charges of theft and fraud. Investigations are ongoing against two other officials from the Ministry for alleged involvement in embezzlement and fraud.

The implications of this scandal are significant, as it comes at a time when the Somali government claims to be engaged in combating corruption and mismanagement of public resources.

Somalia has been ranked as the most corrupt country in the world by Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. The rampant corruption, combined with terrorism and armed conflict, has created a breeding ground for graft and abuse of power.

Despite requests for comments, both SNTV Director Mohamed Kaafi Abukar and Deputy Minister of Information Abdirahman Yusuf (also known as Al-Adaala) have remained silent on the matter. Al-Adaala, who is reportedly associated with CAFIS, a partner of SNTV and VIKES according to its website, has not provided any response.

This revelation raises serious concerns about the misuse of foreign aid meant to bolster government institutions in Somalia at the expense of international taxpayers’ funds.

“The misappropriation of these donated resources not only undermines the efforts to promote transparency and accountability but also hampers the operations of the state media in informing the public,” says a former SNTV director Farah Dharaar who left his position when the Finland donations arrived.

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Sources within the ministry, who spoke to Kaab TV on condition of anonymity, revealed the stunning development.

According to insiders, Abdinasir Hussein left Somalia discreetly upon learning about the investigation conducted by the Office of the Auditor General, although he had not been placed under any form of restriction. Presently, he is believed to be residing in England.

The Attorney General’s Office, when contacted for comment, declined to disclose any specific details pertaining to the investigation. Similarly, Abdullahi Hayir Duale, the Director General of the Ministry of Information, refused to provide any statements, citing the ongoing nature of the inquiry.

The allegations of corruption emerged amidst reports of millions of dollars going missing from the Ministry of Information accounts. These funds include registration fees that were collected by the ministry using unauthorized receipt vouchers, without approval from the Accountant General. A Ministry of Finance official confirmed that no funds generated by the Ministry of Information had been deposited into the national treasury whatsoever.

Furthermore, the Office of the Auditor General has launched an investigation into the collection of fees from foreign journalists entering the country.

Sources we interviewed and documents indicate that the ministry has been charging fees ranging from $200 to $300 per person for permission granted to foreign journalists. This aspect of the investigation aims to shed light on potential irregularities in the fee collection process.

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Anonymous sources within the Ministry of Information’s Office of Human Resources have also come forward with additional allegations. They claim that over the past decade, approximately half of the ministry’s budget has not been utilized for its intended operational purposes. Instead, these funds have allegedly been diverted by senior officials while majority of the staff at the ministry were non-regular staff and were not paid.

Farah Dharar, the former Director of the state television (SNTV), echoed these concerns, emphasizing the urgent need to rectify major flaws undermining the ministry’s work. Dharar highlighted the misappropriation of funds designated for the annual subscription of SNTV’s satellite services, which includes two channels: SNTV and SNTV2 (now SNTV Daljir). The funds allocated for this purpose have allegedly been siphoned off by high-ranking officials.

Adding to the growing scandal, local media recently reported the theft of valuable equipment from the Ministry of Information’s headquarters. The stolen items include three Sonny PXW-Z150 4K XDCAM CAMRECORDER cameras and three Blackmagic Studio Camera HD cameras. These equipment donations were provided by the Finnish government through the VIKES Foundation, affiliated with the Ministry of Information. Reports suggest that the stolen equipment is being utilized at a private studio called ‘Wali Media Production’ in Mogadishu’s Waberi district. The estimated value of the stolen devices amounts to tens of thousands of dollars.

The gravity of the corruption scandal became apparent on June 22 when the Attorney General’s office announced the arrest of two officials from the Ministry of Information, along with a senior military officer. The charges against them include fraud spanning a decade-long embezzlement of public funds, and the illicit sale of fuel and FM radio transmitters dating back to 2012.

Addressing the nation at the presidential mosque on Friday, President Mohamud emphasized that while some individuals have already been apprehended, many more would be arrested in connection with the corruption scandal.

He issued a stern warning to those attempting to flee the country, stating, “Unless you are thieves, I urge those who are leaving the country to stay. If you have not stolen anything, there is no reason to run away.”

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