SJS Media Freedom Archives - Kaab TV

Somali Police Assault Women Journalists, Arrest Them and Confiscate Camera Equipment in Mogadishu

Kaab TV News Editor — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:40:55 +0000

MOGADISHU, Somalia 19 March 2026 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) strongly condemns the violent arrest and confiscation of equipment from two women journalists in Mogadishu on Wednesday, 18 March, while they were covering a public protest against forced evictions in Mogadishu’s Dayniile district.

Kaab TV journalist Amiro Sulaiman Ibrahim and Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman from Five Somali TV were violently arrested by armed police officers reportedly led by Captain Jamilo Faradar. The officers beat Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman before forcing her into a police vehicle.

Both journalists told SJS that they were taken to Dayniile police station, where they were detained before being released later in the afternoon.

Although the two reporters were freed, police confiscated their equipment. Kaab TV reported that its camera equipment, including a camera, microphones, and a memory card, has still not been returned.

The journalists witnessed police opening fire on civilians, resulting in deaths and injuries, the station said.

On Wednesday night, armed police officers from Hamar Jajab Police Station raided the home of Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman and rearrested her. A colleague told SJS that officers beat Iqro before taking her to the police station, where she remains in detention.

“We strongly condemn the arrest of two women journalists, Amiro Sulaiman Ibrahim of Kaab TV and Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman of Five Somali TV. We also condemn the physical assault of Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin. “We call for respect for press freedom, the protection of journalists, and the immediate return of the camera equipment confiscated from Kaab TV.”

“Last night, police raided the residence of Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman and beat her before rearresting her. These attacks are a blatant violation of media freedom and the safety of journalists, particularly women journalists working in an already dangerous environment,” Mr. Mumin added.

The post Somali Police Assault Women Journalists, Arrest Them and Confiscate Camera Equipment in Mogadishu appeared first on Kaab TV.

SJS Strongly Condemns the Abduction of Journalist Abdihaafid Nor

Staff Reporter — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 07:28:22 +0000

MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) strongly condemns the abduction of journalist Abdihaafid Nor by armed officers of the Somali National Army in Mogadishu on the morning of Tuesday, February 24, 2026. SJS is calling for his immediate and unconditional release.

According to reports, armed officers from the Somali National Army abducted journalist Abdihaafid Nor at approximately 1:50 a.m. on February 24 in Mogadishu.

Eyewitnesses told SJS that Abdihaafid was at a restaurant in the area early Tuesday morning when armed officers—some wearing military uniforms and others in civilian clothing—arrived in a pickup truck and forcibly took him away.

Reliable sources informed SJS that the journalist was transported to a military facility inside the Jaalle Siyaad Military Academy in the Hodan district of Mogadishu. His family and friends have been unable to reach him, and his phone remains switched off.

On Monday, February 23, Abdihaafid Nor, a reporter with Somali Cable Television who is also active on Facebook, published a report about the dismissal of four commanders from the Turkish-trained Gorgor forces.

According to his report, the officers were removed from their posts following a dispute over orders to deduct $100 from allowances allocated to soldiers who had been wounded or fallen ill while serving in the unit. The four commanders reportedly refused to carry out the order, leading to their immediate dismissal.

Military sources told SJS that the report angered certain officers within the Gorgor unit and that this may have led to the journalist’s abduction.

SJS strongly condemns this act of abduction, describing it as a serious violation of press freedom and the fundamental rights of journalists.

“The abduction of our colleague Abdihaafid Nor, who exposed the dismissal of Gorgor force commanders in the public interest, is a direct attack on press freedom,” said SJS Secretary General Abdalle Mumin.

“We call on the officers of the Somali National Army who abducted Abdihaafid Nor to release him immediately and unconditionally. We also demand an end to intimidation, unlawful detention, and reprisals against journalists operating in Somalia,” Mumin added.

The post SJS Strongly Condemns the Abduction of Journalist Abdihaafid Nor appeared first on Kaab TV.

Journalist Freed After Overnight Unlawful Detention by Doolow Authorities in Jubaland

Staff Reporter — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:26:28 +0000

Mogadishu (Kaab TV) – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) welcomes the release of journalist Ali Mohamed Diriye, who spent a day and night in unlawful detention in Doolow town, Gedo region, in Somalia’s Jubaland state, on Sunday, 28 December.

Ali Mohamed Diriye, also known as Ali Yare, is a reporter with Radio Gedo, a local radio station based in Doolow, a border town with Ethiopia. On Sunday morning, 28 December, while he was having tea at a local coffee shop in Doolow, armed officers from the Jubaland intelligence services arrived at the café and immediately arrested him.

Ali told SJS that the officers confiscated his mobile phone, forcibly removed his clothing, leaving him only in his underwear, and detained him in a small container room. He said he remained there until the morning of 29 December, without access to food, drinking water, or a washroom, before being released.

Ali is originally from Beled-Hawo, another town in the Gedo region on the border with Kenya, which is currently under the control of an administration affiliated with the Federal Government of Somalia. On the day of his arrest, Radio Gedo had published a video showing a fire that destroyed stalls at the local market in Doolow.

Ali told SJS that he also contributes to Mogadishu-based Kalsan TV and had most recently been actively reporting on the Beled-Hawo conflict, where several weeks of armed clashes between Jubaland forces and Federal Government troops resulted in dozens of deaths and the displacement of local communities in July and August. One such report was Ali’s early November story about the arrest of a local military officer by Ethiopian forces backing the Jubaland administration.

The Beled-Hawo conflict in Somalia’s Gedo region is a recurring power struggle between the Federal Government and the Jubaland State over control of the strategic border town. Clashes in mid-2025 between federal forces and Jubaland-aligned troops displaced civilians, heightened tensions, and raised concerns in Ethiopia. Rooted in disputes over federalism, security, and resource distribution, Gedo remains a key battleground in Somalia’s political landscape.

A local journalist in the region who advocated for Ali’s release told SJS that authorities in Doolow were displeased with Ali’s previous reporting. Local clan elders from Ali’s community intervened and called for his release on Monday, 29 December. However, Ali told SJS that he has since left Doolow due to safety concerns.

“We welcome the release of Ali Mohamed Diriye (Ali Yare) from unlawful detention and are relieved that he is now safely reunited with his family. We call on the authorities in Gedo to respect and uphold journalists’ right to report freely, accurately, and impartially on events on the ground, regardless of which actors are involved,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“Ali committed no wrongdoing; he was simply fulfilling his professional duty by informing the public about the conflict in his region. Unfortunately, this led local authorities in Doolow to persecute him. We strongly condemn these actions and urge an end to the harassment of journalists,” added Mr. Mumin.

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