On 8 September 2025, the presidential guards of Galmudug State President Ahmed Abdi Kaariye Qoor Qoor assaulted, threatened, fired live bullets, and kidnapped two journalists: Jafar Mohamed Jimale (reporter) and Abdimajid Abdirahman (cameraman), both working for Kalsan TV.

According to media reports, shortly before the arrest, evicted families—mostly women and children—were protesting near the residence where President Qoor Qoor was staying in Mogadishu, voicing complaints over forced evictions carried out by the federal government. The demonstration was organized by residents displaced from the former fire brigade camp at Wadajir district, who accused Qoor Qoor of breaking his promise to provide them with alternative land after their homes were demolished. In April last year, the president himself had addressed these same families, assuring them they would be allocated permanent land for resettlement.

As the Kalsan TV journalists were covering the protest, President Qoor Qoor deployed his security forces to target them while they were carrying out their professional duties. The journalists told SJS that the president’s armed guards abducted, beat, and held them for more than three hours inside Qoor Qoor’s residence in Hodan district. They were eventually released after the security detail deleted the footage they had recorded.

Galmudug President’s communication team did not respond to SJS calls seeking answers regarding the journalists’ case.

On 28 August 2025, plainclothes officers of the Somalia National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) unlawfully detained Feysal Abdi Farah, a reporter for Kalsan TV, and Hassan Mohamed Hashi, a cameraman, while they were covering the rising fish prices at Mogadishu’s fish market in Hamarweyne district.

The journalists told SJS that the armed officers first approached and harassed them while they were interviewing fishmongers, before placing them under arrest. According to Kalsan TV, the journalists were held in an open area of the market for nearly two hours, during which their equipment was confiscated and their recorded content deleted, before they were eventually released.

This attack adds to the growing number of cases in which newly deployed NISA officers in Mogadishu have repeatedly targeted journalists—and even ordinary citizens—for speaking out or criticizing the authorities. As a result, many local media houses have become increasingly reluctant to send their crews into the streets to carry out reporting assignments.

On 28 August, online journalist Farhan Mohamed Barale reported that he received threats of arrest and intimidation from the Dayniile police commander, Captain Ahmed Ali Yalahow, following his reporting on insecurity and armed robberies in the Dayniile district of Mogadishu. The journalist stated that he received phone calls from Captain Yalahow threatening him with arrest. Farhan also posted publicly on his Facebook account, warning his family and friends that if he were to “disappear or face harm”, it would be the responsibility of Captain Yalahow.

On 27 August, a female journalist working for the online platform Dalbile TV, Anisa Ahmed, was arrested at Dayniile police station for a day after Captain Yalahow’s men brought her there. She had been detained following her report on armed robbery incidents including one she was a victim in the Dayniile district.

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

“We strongly condemn the assault, threats, live gunfire, and the kidnapping of journalists Jafar Mohamed Jimale and Abdimajid Abdirahman, both working for Kalsan TV. We demand answers from President Qoor Qoor’s office in Galmudug and call for accountability for the security officers who kidnapped and assaulted the journalists,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“SJS also condemns the unlawful detention of Feysal Abdi Farah and Hassan Mohamed Hashi by NISA, as well as the threats and intimidation against Farhan Mohamed Barale, all targeted simply for their journalism work,” added Mr. Mumin. “Targeting media professionals for doing their jobs is unacceptable and undermines press freedom in Somalia. We call on the Mogadishu authorities to immediately investigate these incidents, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure the safety of journalists so they can report freely without fear of harassment or violence.”

The post Somali Journalists Covering Protests and Market Reporting Attacked by NISA and Galmudug President’s Guards in Mogadishu appeared first on Kaab TV.

On Tuesday, 2 September, police officers in Laascaanood summoned Daljir Media reporter Mohamed Muse Yusuf (known as Mohamed Koronto) shortly after his interview with the regional Minister of Information, Najib Barkhadle, was published by Daljir Media. In the interview reviewed by SJS, Mr. Barkhadle criticized the process of Northeast State’s formation, which was rebranded from SSC-Khaatumo under the backing of the Somali federal government. He described the process as “hastened and lacking major consensus.” He also condemned the federal Minister of Interior, who had recently called on Laascaanood authorities to crush opposition groups.

Mohamed Koronto told SJS that when he reported to the Laascaanood police station on Tuesday afternoon alongside colleague journalists, he was harassed by criminal investigation officers, who told him they did not like the interview he conducted with Mr. Barkhadle, who is now regarded as an opposition figure.

Mr. Barkhadle’s interview came three days after President, Abdukadir Ahmed Aw-Ali Firdhiye, was re-elected in a vote held in Laascaanood.

On Wednesday, 3 September, security personnel attached to the Northeast State president, Abdukadir Firdhiye arrested journalist Sharma’arke Abdi Mahdi, who runs the Facebook news page, Khaatumo TV, which covers local news. Sharma’arke said he was assisting another journalist during an event where President Abdukadir Firdhiye launched a voter registration drive in Laascaanood. The officers arrested Sharma’arke by force and beat him with punches and kicks.

At 10:00 a.m., the journalist was taken to the police station, where he was held incommunicado until late evening without the knowledge of his family or colleagues. This sparked concern, leading fellow journalists to search for him until they eventually found him detained at the station. Journalists who visited him told SJS that officers working for President Firdhiye accused Sharma’arke of recording video clips about the president, which the journalist denied.  He was released during the night without charge.

Sharma’arke told SJS that the president’s team disliked his reporting and that he believes this was the reason for his arrest.

Journalists in Laascaanood reported to SJS that their reporting had been made difficult in the recent days and that local authorities were copying repressive measures employed by the federal government in Mogadishu against journalists.

“We condemn the arbitrary arrest of journalist Sharma’arke Abdi Mahdi and the harassment of reporter Mohamed Muse Yusuf in Laascaanood. Authorities in Laascaanood should understand that their actions are not helping the state formation process. In fact, what they are doing is a blatant violation of press freedom and an attempt to silence independent journalism in Northeast State,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“We call for an end to the intimidation of journalists in Laascaanood as we urge the Northeast State authorities to guarantee the safety and protection of all media workers carrying out their professional duties,” added Mr. Mumin.

(Source: SJS)

The post Local Reporter Arrested, Another Summoned by Police in Laascaanood appeared first on Kaab TV.