On 11 December, a group of journalists from local media outlets were covering two bomb explosions in Mogadishu’s Dayniile and Daaru Salaam districts, when police briefly arrested them and confiscated their equipment, preventing the journalists from their right to access information.

The journalists—Ja’far Mohamed Jimale (reporter), Sumayo Ali Hussein (reporter), and Abdirahman Mohamed Ahmed (cameraman)—were reporting for Kalsan TV, while Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman and her unnamed camera operator were covering the incident for the online news channel Hirasho TV. Iqro said she was held by a soldier who twisted her arm during the arrest. The journalists were taken to the Dayniile Police Station, where police officers warned them not to report on the bombings.

Journalists said one of the two explosions targeted a local school in Dayniile neighborhood where an event related to the preparations for the disputed Mogadishu elections was taking place, killing at least one person and injuring several others. The second blast targeted another school in Daaru Salaam district, injuring an unknown number of people.  Recently, Somalia’s Minister of Education, Farah Abdukadir, announced that schools would be used as polling stations for the vote scheduled for 25 December, despite objections from educational institutions citing serious security risks.

Separately, on 11 December, six reporters were briefly arrested by police and members of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in Yaaqshiid district while reporting on a car accident that killed at least one person. Qasim Abdille Barrow and his colleague, cameraman Mohamed Adan of Somali Cable TV, said they were beaten with pistols before being arrested and having their equipment seized. Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim of Himilo Media and his colleague, cameraman Abdirisak Haji Sidow, were also arrested and had their equipment confiscated.

Ali Yasin Ali, a cameraman with Somali Media Services (SMS), and Hussein Isse Mohamed, a reporter, told SJS that they were beaten with a gun by a soldier and briefly detained alongside Risaala TV cameraman Salman Abdirizak Shire, RTN TV cameraman Mohamed Abdukadir, Universal Somali TV reporter Abshir Abdullahi Amin, and Saab TV reporter Deeq Moalim Jinow.

Journalists in Mogadishu have reported increased pressure and threats from security agencies aimed at preventing coverage of terrorist attacks and local community complaints related to the controversial election in the capital. Residents have repeatedly described incidents in which people were abducted from the streets and forcibly registered as voters without their consent. Shooting incidents resulting in deaths have also been reported in the northern parts of the capital.

Journalists also told SJS that both bribery attempts and threats have been directed at media directors and journalists deemed critical of the government, including those working for international media outlets, in exchange for favorable coverage.

The disputed national election team has not responded to requests for comment.

“SJS condemns these acts of arbitrary arrests and detention, bribery and threats in which journalists were detained, their equipment seized, and they were prevented from reporting on matters of public interest in Mogadishu over the past weeks. We are also alarmed by the level of threats directed at critical reporters by the so-called independent electoral body, as Mogadishu faces serious security and economic challenges,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin. “These constitute a gross constitutional violation, depriving journalists of their right to access information and report freely—rights that, sadly, the Somali security forces, who are supposed to uphold them, have been ignoring.”

“We call on all those involved in these attacks to immediately stop. Journalists must be able to report on any incident occurring in their areas, whether or not those in power approve of the coverage,” added Mr. Mumin.

The post Journalists in Mogadishu Face Increased Attacks and Arrests Ahead of a Disputed ‘Local Election’ appeared first on Kaab TV.

Sharif Shuriye Hashi, a 35-year-old reporter for Universal Somali TV, was arrested from his home in Jowhar on 8 December by Hirshabelle State police officers. According to local journalists, the arrest was led by Hassan Jabshe, Deputy Commander of the Jowhar Police Station.

Sharif’s newly wedded wife, Hamdi Muse Digow, also 35, was arrested on the same day. Both remain in police custody.

During the arrest, Sharif told SJS that he was beaten, handcuffed with a rope, and that he sustained injuries during the beating, including swelling at the back of his head, and continues to suffer severe pain. He added that he has been denied access to medical care. A family member also informed SJS that they are deeply concerned about his deteriorating health due to the abuse and lack of medical attention while in detention.

On Saturday, 13 December, police brought Sharif and his wife before the Jowhar District Court, alleging that their marriage—conducted in September 2025—was “illegitimate.”, according to a report by the local media.  Authorities reportedly claimed that Sharif, who belongs to the Jareer (Bantu) community, could not lawfully marry a woman from the Hawiye/Hawadle clan. This information was reported by Himilo Media and confirmed to SJS by a journalist and a clan elder who attended the court hearing.

During the proceedings, Sharif and Hamdi maintained that they are “legally and willingly” married and presented witnesses to their nikah, which took place on 25 September 2025 in Jowhar, according to a document seen by SJS.  Jowhar police also produced a local sheikh, whom Sharif identified as the cleric who conducted the nikah, along with proof of mobile money payment used during the nikah ceremony. However, according to those present in court, the same sheikh later recanted his statement to the court and stated that he had not conducted the marriage.

Hamdi Muse Digow, who remains in detention, spoke to a local journalist stating that she and her husband were “arrested due to pressure from her clan”. She stated that she is “being detained for marrying a man with whom she had been in a relationship for ten years”.

A clan elder, who requested anonymity, told SJS that elders from both communities met following the court hearing on Saturday to resolve the matter. The discussions ended without agreement, as members of Hamdi’s family reportedly insisted that intermarriage with the Bantu community “was unacceptable”.  Other sources informed SJS that Deputy Police Commander Hassan Jabshe, who is heavily involved in the case, belongs to the same clan as Hamdi.

Both Hassan Jabshe and the Jowhar police command declined to speak to SJS.

Sharif Shuriye Hashi comes from the historically marginalized and often oppressed Jareer (Bantu) community in Southern Somalia. He migrated from Buloburte in central Somalia several years ago, where he began his career as a junior radio reporter for a local radio statiom. In Jowhar, he worked for the local radio station City FM before joining Mogadishu-based Universal Somali TV as its Jowhar correspondent.

In recent weeks, Sharif reported on two significant and sensitive stories. On 23 November 2025, he reported that “fuel prices had sharply increased” after al‑Qaeda-linked al‑Shabaab militants blocked roads to Jowhar and arrested tanker drivers transporting fuel from Mogadishu. Just days before his arrest, On 2 December 2025, he reported “a sharp rise in sesame crop prices in Jowhar markets“, attributing it to recurring droughts and floods affecting farmers in Middle Shabelle.

Local authorities in Hirshabelle have a history of targeting journalists and censoring media outlets that report on underdevelopment in the region and the impact of al-Shabaab’s presence on the livelihoods of local communities.

“SJS strongly condemns the unlawful arrest, abuse, and continued detention of journalist Sharif Shuriye Hashi and his wife Hamdi Muse Digow. Their detention represents a blatant abuse of power, driven by discrimination and intimidation rather than the rule of law. We call for their immediate and unconditional release and for an end to these unfounded court proceedings, which are being used as a tool to harass and silence a journalist for his work,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“The police must focus on their core responsibility of ensuring public security and protecting civilians, not arresting journalists or making false and intrusive accusations about the legality of personal marriages. Such actions undermine justice, violate fundamental rights, and erode public trust in law enforcement,” Mr. Mumin adds  “We also urge international partners supporting the Somali police to closely scrutinize this case and ensure that their assistance does not contribute to human rights abuses, discrimination, or the suppression of media freedom.”

The post Critical Somali Bantu Journalist Beaten, Arrested with His Wife, and Falsely Accused of Illegitimate Marriage in Hirshabelle State appeared first on Kaab TV.

On 29 November, authorities in Marka, the capital of the Lower Shabelle region, ordered the closure of MarkaFM, a privately owned radio station. According to the station’s founder and manager, Ahmed Omar, the closure order was issued by the Marka District Commissioner, Osman Muse, after the radio reported on a gunfight between forces loyal to the district commissioner and those aligned with the head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in Marka.

The fighting on 29 November reportedly stemmed from a dispute over control of fees collected from the registration of the national ID (NIRA) in the district. Residents in Marka were recently instructed to register for the national ID, and fees were reportedly collected from applicants.

Ahmed Omar, told SJS that this was not the first time the station had come under pressure from local authorities. On 9 November, officials contacted the radio’s staff and demanded the removal of a news report about a bomb explosion inside a restaurant that caused civilian injuries.

Journalists at the station further told SJS that the authorities have repeatedly threatened them. On 29 November, Ahmed Omar told SJS that he was beaten by the Marka district commissioner after being summoned into the commissioner’s office.

MarkaFM is the only privately owned radio station that had been operational in Marka since September this year. The station’s manager told SJS that the outlet has five employees. The radio has remained off-air since 29 November.

Calls by SJS to Marka District Commissioner Osman Muse seeking an explanation went unanswered.

“We strongly condemn the closure of MarkaFM and the ongoing intimidation of its journalists. Silencing the only independent radio station in Marka is a direct attack on press freedom and the public’s right to information. We urge the local authorities to immediately allow the station to resume broadcasting and to stop all forms of threats against its staff,” said SJS Secretary General Abdalle Mumin.

The post MarkaFM Radio Shut Down After Reporting on Gunfight and Bomb Explosion appeared first on Kaab TV.

Anisa told SJS that on Tuesday night 26 August, she was contacted by a police commander from Waaberi police station in Mogadishu, where her television has a studio. The officer summoned her in response to an alleged complaint filed by another police commander from Dayniile district. On Wednesday morning 27 August, at around 9:30 a.m. local time, when she reported to Waaberi police station, she was held for an hour and her phone was confiscated. Armed men later arrived and forcibly pushed her into a waiting police vehicle. When she tried to ask where she was being taken, two armed officers physically assaulted her, grabbing her by the neck and threatening to strangle her if she resisted.

According to Anisa, she was transferred to Dayniile police station, located on the northwestern side of Mogadishu, where she was interrogated about her recent reports on insecurity and armed robbery. She was locked in a dark cell until nearly 6:00 p.m. local time.

Dalbile TV manager, Mushtaq Qanyare, who is based in the UK, told SJS that Anisa had recently filed two reports highlighting the worsening insecurity in Dayniile district, including incidents where “armed men in government uniforms were robbing civilians“. Anisa herself had also been a victim of robbery by government forces. These reports first published on 23 August, seemed to have angered Dayniile district officials, who demanded that Dalbile TV remove them, but the station refused.

While being detained at the Dayniile police station, Anisa said she was shocked to see “dozens of kidnapped civilians” held there, including local shopkeepers subjected to extortion and bribery demands in exchange for their release. Anisa recounted that one young shopowner told her he had been “held for 45 days without charge and that his family had been forced to pay US$ 400 for his release, yet he remained in custody”.

Although Anisa herself was not charged, she remained locked in the police cell for the entire day.

“At one point they photographed me and forced me to sign a police statement, which they claimed was mine. But when I read it, I saw they had inserted false information and fabricated crimes against me. I refused to sign, and they began threatening me,” she told SJS.

Later in the afternoon, a member of the Somali Federal Parliament’s Lower House intervened. The Dayniile police commander, Captain Ahmed Ali Yalahow, who had ordered her arrest told Anisa that he was informed “she belonged to his clan”, which led to her immediate release.

Yalahow did not respond to SJS calls. However, SJS reviewed a statement he posted on his personal Facebook account on 25 August two days after the Dalbile TV’s report. In the post, Captain Yalahow appeared to acknowledge the armed robbery in his district and even urged locals to report such incidents to the police.

After her release, Anisa wrote about her ordeal on Facebook, but she said she was pressured to remove it, which she did. She told SJS that the Dayniile police commander, Captain Yalahow, had contacted her family, who then pressured her to take it down for her own safety.

“We strongly condemn the unlawful arrest and assault of our colleague Anisa Ahmed. Such blatant abuse of power by the police against a young woman journalist is unacceptable and must not go unpunished. We demand full accountability for those responsible for this unlawful detention and physical assault,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“Instead of addressing the real problems of insecurity and the armed robbery, the authorities in Mogadishu are targeting the messengers who dare to expose the truth. The ongoing threats and intimidation against independent journalists show that speaking out about the harrowing ordeal the Mogadishu population is enduring has become extremely dangerous—not only for journalists but also for ordinary citizens. When press freedom no longer exists, the public’s right to know dies,” Mr. Mumin adds.

The post Mogadishu Woman Journalist Arrested and Physically Assaulted After Exposing Armed Robbery by Uniformed Men appeared first on Kaab TV.

If left unchallenged, this move risks enabling the whitewashing of grave human rights violations across the country.

On Saturday, 31 May 2025, SJS observed media reports indicating that the Minister of Women and Human Rights had began the selection of the members of the yet-to-be-formed NHRC. This body, according to the Provisional Constitution, is to be established by the Federal Parliament, not by the President’s Office or a cabinet minister.

It is deeply concerning that Minister Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, acting under instructions from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, proceeded this process without transparency and legal clarity thereby violating both national laws and international norms.

SJS reiterates the urgent need for a genuinely independent National Human Rights Commission, as articulated in Article 41 of the Provisional Constitution, which states:
“The Federal Parliament shall establish a Human Rights Commission that is independent of State control, and has adequate resources to carry out its functions effectively.”

The Constitution also states what functions this commission is going to undertake and it states “The functions of the Human Rights Commission (NHRC) shall include the promotion of knowledge of human rights, setting implementation standards, monitoring rights violations, and investigating alleged abuses.”

In addition, Law No. 18 of 2016, enacted on 14 August 2016, provides the legal framework for the Somalia National Human Right Commission, emphasizing its “independence from government control, transparency, and autonomy in decision-making.”

Contradictions in the Current Process

Despite these clear legal provisions, the current process was initiated by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, through Minister of Women and Human Rights, Khadija Al-Makhzoumi, without any legal basis or public participation. Individuals—many with ties to government ministries or personal connections to top officials—were invited for a so-called examination, without a publicly announced or merit-based selection procedure.

This is not the first irregularity.  In December 2023, the same ministry sent emails calling for NHRC applications via email (seen by SJS) and has been reported by the media. However, many qualified applicants reported receiving no response. Later, they discovered through the media that certain individuals had already been selected without public vetting or due process.

Why is the government pushing this now?

Somalia has never had an independent national human rights commission. For years, federal authorities in Mogadishu have delayed or resisted the establishment of a credible NHRC. The process has been plagued by political interference, lack of transparency, and non-compliance with constitutional and international obligations.

This move comes at a time of intense political instability and fragmentation in Somalia. The federal government’s relations with Puntland and Jubaland have deteriorated. Meanwhile, unilateral constitutional amendments and electoral reforms are being pushed forward by President Hassan Sheikh’s administration. Simultaneously, attacks on journalists, human rights defenders, and civilians by both the government and Al-Shabaab have increased.

Establishing a government-controlled NHRC in this volatile context would not serve justice—it would only legitimize repression, whitewash abuses, and shield violators from accountability.

SJS reminds the Somali government—particularly the Ministry of Women and Human Rights and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud—that the NHRC must be formed in line with international norms, notably the Paris Principles, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1993, and reinforced by the Kigali Declaration (2003) of the African Union.

The Paris Principles emphasize:

• Transparent and participatory selection processes involving civil society, academia, and human rights organizations.
• Merit-based selection of the commission members grounded in integrity and commitment to human rights.
• Public calls for applications, background checks, and open vetting.
• Independent, pluralistic selection committees free from political influence.
• Parliamentary oversight and legal grounding to ensure independence and legitimacy.

Similarly, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Resolution 31 requires that NHRIs: (a) Be established by constitutional or legislative mandate; (b) Be independent of government control; (c) Have a broad, actionable mandate, including powers to investigate, report, and recommend action; (d) Be financially autonomous.

What we witnessed on Saturday in Mogadishu stands in direct violation of all these standards.  SJS calls on the Federal Government of Somalia to immediately halt the ongoing process and restart the formation of the NHRC in full compliance with Article 41 of the Provisional Constitution and international standards.

SJS makes the following recommendations:

• The Somali government must reform the election process and ensure it is legally grounded, publicly communicated, and free from political interference in any form.
• As requires by the Constitution, the Parliament must establish an Independent Selection Committee and include credible and trustworthy representatives from civil society, minority groups, academia, and legal experts with clean background.
• The Parliament must ensure transparent vetting and appointment procedures, and base appointments on objective, merit-based criteria with public oversight.
• The federal government must guarantee NHRC independence and the commission must operate free from government control or political manipulation.
• The Parliament must ensure oversight to ensure that all appointments must be reviewed and confirmed by the Federal Parliament following broad consultations with civil society.
• The selection committee must prevent rights abusers from involvement in the committee and individuals implicated in human rights violations must be barred from participating in the selection process or serving on the commission.

SJS Call to Somali Civil Society

SJS urges independent Somali civil society organizations to take a proactive role in advocating for a credible, inclusive, and transparent NHRC formation process. Somalia deserves a national human rights institution that defends victims and holds all actors accountable, including the state.

SJS Call to the International Community

SJS also call on international partners, and development organizations to closely monitor this process and ensure that any support provided aligns with international human rights standards and promotes a genuinely independent NHRC.

“This flawed process of the selection of the National Human Rights Commission can and must be corrected. SJS affirms that a credible, independent National Human Rights Commission is far better than a politicized, government-controlled one. Somalia needs an National Human Rights Commission that protects the rights of its people—not one that enables impunity,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

(Source: SJS)

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The symposium, titled “About the Disappearance of a World“, focused on the critical responsibilities of aid and human rights organizations in addressing war, disasters, migration, the climate crisis, and the role of today’s media and journalists as frontline defenders and witnesses.

SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Mumin participated as a panelist, emphasizing that the climate crisis is not just an environmental concern, but also a manifestation of historical and ongoing global power imbalances. He illustrated this with the example of the 2021 floods in Germany that claimed over 180 lives and triggered billions in recovery aid, compared to the 2022 drought in Somalia which killed 43,000 people—mostly children—with far less international attention.

“Yet climate-linked migration is often framed as a security threat in Europe and beyond, justifying walls, detention, and militarization, rather than addressing the root causes,” said Mr. Mumin.

Somalia remains one of the countries most severely affected by the climate crisis, with millions forced into displacement after losing their livelihoods. Floods and recurrent droughts continue to claim lives—mostly among vulnerable groups such as women and children.

Since 2022, SJS has partnered with Medico International to train more than 60 local journalists—including those from communities directly affected by floods in southern and central Somalia—to report on climate change and raise awareness around climate justice.

Journalists, including those within the SJS network, have also been victimized by recurrent droughts and floods, often compounded by ongoing conflicts.

This SJS-Medico International initiative not only engaged journalists and media professionals but also brought together local authorities, community leaders, and human rights defenders to seek solutions to this persistent crisis.

“Journalists play a critical role in shaping climate policy, raising awareness among local communities—including displaced persons—and assisting them in developing mitigation and adaptation strategies,” added Mr. Mumin. “When empowered, the media’s influence on public opinion is substantial, and how climate issues are reported and understood directly impacts the discourse and the solutions provided to affected communities.”

At the Frankfurt symposium, discussions also highlighted the massive budget cuts in climate action and the increasing securitization of climate-induced migration.

However, one powerful outcome was a renewed call for global solidarity and a reminder that hope must not be lost. Journalists were recognized for their role in ensuring that the world does not silently disappear.

“I believe our greatest task is to ask ourselves how we can be better humans—to each other, to our communities, to those forced to flee, and to our disappearing world,” Mr. Mumin added “In a time where rising seas erase coastlines, where families are displaced by conflict and climate, and where walls are built faster than bridges—it’s easy to feel hopeless. But journalists can, and must, carry this responsibility effectively.”

The final message concluded with Mr. Mumin reciting a verse from a song by the renowned Somali singer, the late Luul Jeylani, who more than three decades ago poignantly connected themes of love, sustenance, and human appreciation. She sang:

‘A man who plants sorghum in a pit, will reap it when the rains fall, he will not lose it.

It is only right to appreciate each other. The favor you showed me, I’ve cherished with.

Is it fair for me to cut ties with you?’

SJS extends its sincere gratitude to Medico International for organizing this impactful symposium. We also deeply appreciate the warm welcome and rich exchanges with fellow journalists, academics, NGO leaders, and solidarity groups during the event in Frankfurt.

(Source: SJS)

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