On Wednesday, 17 December, Radio Gaalkacyo reported that the Puntland Mudug Regional Prosecutor, Muxubo Faysal Axmed, issued a summons ordering Mohamed Abdul Aziz—director of the oldest community-owned radio station, Radio Gaalkacyo, based in Galkayo city—to appear before the Prosecutor’s Office.

A copy of the summons received by SJS states: “The Mudug Regional Prosecutor’s Office directs the Director of Radio Gaalkacyo, Mohamed Abdul Aziz, to appear before the Mudug Regional Prosecutor’s Office on 20/12/2025 at 10:00 a.m. to respond to a complaint filed with the Prosecutor’s Office by the Governor of Mudug Region, Faysal Sheikh Ali.”

Radio Gaalkacyo stated that the summons by the regional prosecutor “is an attempt to use the Office of the Prosecutor to suppress the media.”

According to Mohamed Abdul Aziz, who spoke to SJS, the summons followed Radio Gaalkacyo’s recent reporting on a dispute over the formation of a new district council for Heema town, in northern Mudug.  Local Councillors have alleged interference by Mudug Governor Faysal Sheikh Ali in the process.

On 8 December, Radio Gaalkacyo published a video on its Facebook page showing a group of Galkayo councillors attempting to visit Heema, a rural town outside Galkayo, but reportedly being blocked by armed men acting on the orders of Governor Faysal Sheikh Ali.

On the same day, the station also shared another video featuring local women from Heema who appealed directly to Puntland President Sa’id Abdullahi Deni, urging him to intervene.

The dispute in Heema town followed the removal of a former district council and the reported election of a new one. Community members have raised concerns about worsening drought conditions, lack of adequate water, and the need for a district administration that genuinely represents and understands local realities. Residents say many officials assigned to the area “do not live there and therefore cannot fully grasp” the community’s hardships.

When contacted for comment, Mudug Governor Faysal Sheikh Ali declined to respond.

In June this year, Mohamed Abdul Aziz and a colleague were arrested on the orders of Governor Faysal Sheikh Ali after Radio Gaalkacyo reported on a protest by local youth demanding accountability in Galkayo town.

Galkayo, the capital of central Somalia’s Mudug region, is divided into two administrations: the northern part is under Puntland, while the southern part is administered by Galmudug State.

“SJS calls on the Puntland State’s Mudug Regional Prosecutor to stop harassment and summonses aimed at silencing public-interest reporting. We also urge Governor of Mudug, Mr. Faysal Sheikh Ali to cease using state power to intimidate journalists covering critical issues of public concern,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“State officials, including those in Mudug region, have many important responsibilities and should focus on those, rather than wasting resources targeting the media that report critically to them. Local communities have the right to express themselves, and when their voices are ignored, the media serves as the frontline defender of their concerns,” added Mr. Mumin.

The post Puntland: Mudug Prosecutor Summons Radio Gaalkacyo Director Over District Council Dispute Reporting appeared first on Kaab TV.

On 3 June, Jubbaland TV reported that representatives from the Somali Ministry of Information in Mogadishu had “looted” their equipment, including “cameras, computers, and office supplies”, which were essential for the operation of their studio in Mogadishu.

A journalist working for the station told SJS that during the raid, the Jubbaland TV office was unlawfully taken over. Jubbaland TV, which is owned by the Jubaland state, had operated an office and studio within the premises of the Federal Ministry of Information in Mogadishu.

Since October 2024, a deepening constitutional and territorial conflict between Jubbaland and Somalia’s federal government has escalated—from political opposition to electoral disputes, legal warfare, and eventually armed conflict that broke out in December. The dispute has also resulted in the suspension of flights to several towns in Jubbaland.

On Friday, 6 June, Puntland State Police in Galkayo arrested Mohamed Abdul Aziz, Director of Radio Galkayo, and Ahmed Abdiqani Yusuf, a freelance cameraman. The pair were at Awale Football Stadium, where local authorities and members of the public had gathered for Eid-ul-Adha prayers.

Mohamed Abdul Aziz told SJS that he had gone to perform the prayers but was also aware that a group of local youth—previously featured in Radio Galkayo reports—were planning a protest against the city authorities. According to media sources, three of the youth involved in the planned protest were also arrested by police.

Mohamed Abdul Aziz told SJS that he received a phone call from Mudug Police Commissioner Mohamud Abdihakim shortly before his arrest. The commissioner warned him that Radio Galkayo should stop discussing the youth protests. In recent weeks, Radio Galkayo has been at the forefront of covering and discussing the youth-led protests.

Later that day, during a press conference, the Governor of Mudug Region in Puntland, Faysal Sheikh Ali, accused the youth of planning to stage a protest “organized without official permission.” He claimed they had a microphone mounted on a vehicle and had printed “slogans criticizing the city authorities.”

Radio Galkayo—a community-owned station and one of the longest-serving radio outlets in Puntland—condemned the arrests of the youth and journalists as “illegal.”  Since mid May 2025, youth in Galkayo have been organizing both online and offline protests demanding improved sanitation, a functional drainage system (as rains have blocked roads), the construction of Galkayo Airport, and the depoliticization of the Galkayo-Xarfo road, which remains suspended due to a dispute between Puntland state and the Somali federal authorities.

The two journalists were released on Saturday after spending a night at the Galkayo North Police Station, Mohamed Abdul Aziz confirmed to SJS.

“The Somali Journalists Syndicate strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest of Radio Galkayo director Mohamed Abdul Aziz and freelance cameraman Ahmed Abdiqani Yusuf in Galkayo, as well as the unlawful raid and looting of Jubbaland TV’s studio in Mogadishu by officials from the Ministry of Information,” said Abdalle Mumin, Secretary-General of SJS.

“These actions are not only illegal and abusive but are a clear attempt to intimidate independent media and silence critical reporting. We call on both Puntland authorities and the federal government to immediately end the harassment of journalists, return the confiscated equipment, and respect press freedom as guaranteed by Somalia’s Provisional Constitution and international obligations,” Mr. Mumin added.

The post Galkayo Police Arrest 2 Journalists; Somali Ministry of Information Officials raid and Loot Jubbaland State TV Equipment in Mogadishu appeared first on Kaab TV.

The youth were demonstrating against poor sanitation conditions in the city.

Their protest took place at Awale Stadium during the Eid prayer, a time when large crowds had gathered to celebrate.

In recent weeks, Galkayo has witnessed several protests calling for greater accountability from city management regarding public cleanliness, flooded and blocked roads, and poor infrastructure maintenance.

Local authorities have previously stated that they were engaging with the youth over these concerns and had even assigned Puntland state ministers to meet with the protesters last month.

The ministers reportedly pledged that the youth’s demands would be addressed.

“While this morning was Eid and people had gathered at Awale Stadium to celebrate, a group of young men appeared with placards,” said Governor Faysal Sheikh Ali. “They intended to stage a protest that they organized themselves without obtaining official permission. They had a microphone mounted on a vehicle and planned to address the crowd.”

The governor emphasized that maintaining security in the city is a top priority and that unauthorized gatherings which could disrupt public order will not be tolerated. He accused the youth of attempting to “incite confrontation between the public and the government.”

He added that the demonstration had disturbed public order, and that security forces acted in accordance with the law to detain the youth in order to prevent further unrest.

“The security forces informed us that they have detained the individuals along with the placards they were carrying,” the governor said. “They also told me that the detainees admitted to their actions.”

According to reports received by Kaab TV, two of those arrested were well-known local activists advocating for improved sanitation in Galkayo.

It has also been confirmed that the Director of Radio Galkayo, Mohamed Abdiasis, was arrested and is currently in custody. The governor stated that all those detained will be brought before the court.

The post Puntland Police Arrest Youth Protesters During Eid Celebration in Galkayo appeared first on Kaab TV.