According to the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Sharif, a local online journalist, had recently posted criticisms of NISA on his social media platforms.

The journalist was not present during the raid, but armed officers forcibly entered the house, harassed family members, and left in a pickup truck.

“SJS is concerned over the targeting of journalists who criticize Somali security agencies, especially amid ongoing tensions surrounding the country’s elections,” the journalists’ association said in a statement on Saturday.

In a related development, Somaliland authorities released journalist Shafi’i Abdi Mohamed, commonly known as Shaaciye, who had been detained in Hargeisa since January 16, 2025.

🚨ALERT: At approximately 8:00pm local time this evening, armed officers from #Somalia‘s national intelligence #NISA raided a house at #Waberi district, #Mogadishu, where journalist Sharif Abdi, a local online journalist lives.

Shariif had recently been posting criticisms… pic.twitter.com/E6tJRZf2Uk

— Somali Journalists Syndicate – SJS (@sjs_Somalia) January 25, 2025

Shaaciye, known for his critical posts about Somaliland officials on Facebook, was arrested shortly after returning to Hargeisa from Mogadishu, where he had been living for a year.

SJS reported that Somaliland police raided Shaaciye’s home and arrested him under orders from Somaliland Police Commander Mohamed Adan Saqadhi.

Authorities in Somaliland have not commented on the reasons for his detention.

Shaaciye had previously fled Hargeisa, citing threats from Somaliland’s national intelligence due to his critical posts.

During his time in Mogadishu, he continued his journalistic work, frequently reporting on police corruption and public grievances about the Somaliland police commander.

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