MOGADISHU, Somalia 2 November 2025 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is concerned about the ongoing attacks and arrests of journalists reporting from Somalia and Somaliland, including the arrest of six reporters in Mogadishu on the International Day to End Impunity.
Attacks and arrests have seen a sharp rise in Mogadishu and Somaliland so far this year.
On 2 November, Somali police in Mogadishu’s Wadajir District briefly arrested six local journalists who had gone to report on the shooting of a young schoolboy, allegedly killed by an armed soldier of the Somalia National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) during an exchange of gunfire in the area.
Shortly after the incident, the journalists arrived at the scene to cover the story but they were arrested. Those detained included: Hirasho TV reporter Ibrahim Hassan Ahmed and cameraman Abdi Khani Said Mohamed; Daash Somali TV cameraman Sakariye Ahmed Hassan and reporter Hibo Mohamed Mohamud; M24 TV reporter Mohamed Abdi Hassan; and Five Somali TV reporter Osman Hassan Mokoma.
Journalists told SJS that Banadir Regional Police Commander Mahdi Omar Muumin known as Moalim Mahdi ordered their arrest before they could begin recording interviews. The journalists were held at Wadajir Police Station for about three hours and later released without being allowed to report the story.
On 25 October, police at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport detained Somali Cable TV journalist Abdi Hafid Nor, who was traveling to Bakool region for assignment that day. Abdi Hafid told SJS that he was accompanying government officials when airport police stopped and detained him at the airport police station. He said officers informed him that Banadir Regional Police Commander Mahdi Omar Muumin, also known as Moalim Mahdi, had ordered his arrest due to his coverage of activities by the Somali opposition coalition in Mogadishu. Abdi Hafid was held at the airport police station for about an hour before some of the government officials he was traveling with intervened in the matter. He was later released and allowed to continue his journey.
On 19 October, Somali police officers in Mogadishu arrested Daash Somali TV journalist Hibo Mohamed Mohamud and her cameraman Sakariye Ahmed Hassan at Siinaay Market, where armed police were carrying out forced evictions affecting the local community. The journalists were conducting vox pop interviews when they were stopped and detained. They were held at Wardhiigley Police Station for about three hours before being released without charge.
On 19 October, Mohamed Abdukadir, a cameraman working for Arlaadi Media, was briefly arrested while covering a forced eviction taking place in the Wadajir neighborhood of Mogadishu. He was detained at the police station and released without charge after about an hour.
On 16 October, Kaafiin Mohamed Abdi, a reporter with Somali Cable TV and Galmudug TV, was arrested in southern Galkayo after he went to collect interviews about roadblocks set up by local security forces, where truck drivers were being forced to pay money. He was released the following day.
SOMALILAND
On 28 October, Somaliland police in Tog Wajaale arrested four journalists — Hamse Abdirashid, Farhan Abdi Aw-Isse, Abdisamad Bade, and Sayid Hanad Mohamed Madar. Local media reports indicate that the four journalists had travelled from Hargeisa to Wajaale ahead of the grand opening of a new agricultural project inaugurated by President Abdirahman Abdillahi Irro. The journalists had interviewed local clan elders in Wajaale who raised concerns about the project, claiming that land belonging to the local community was being taken over. There was also a protest in the area prior to the president’s visit. The four journalists were released the following day.
On 13 October, Somaliland police in Erigabo arrested journalist Abdirahman Mohamed Dalmar, known as Hiddig, in Erigabo town, Sanaag region, after he conducted interviews with two family members who complained that blood money (diya) owed to them for relatives killed in clan violence had not been paid. Abdirahman was held in a police cell for 10 days without charge before being released, Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA) reported. Journalists in Erigabo told SJS that his arrest was intended to intimidate other journalists and silence independent reporting in the region.
On 7 October, the Togdheer Appeals Court in Buroa, Somaliland sentenced journalist Abdiaziz Saleban Sulub, also known as Abdiaziz Awl, a reporter for KF Media TV, an online media outlet, to one year in prison and imposed a fine of two million Somaliland shillings (approximately USD 200). On 8 October, the journalist was released after paying fines instead of the jail term according to his lawyers. The journalist, who works for social media based outlet, had been arrested on 12 September by Somaliland police in Burao, Togdheer region, as previously reported by SJS. Initially, there was no clear explanation for his arrest. However, SJS later found that Abdiaziz Awl’s arrest followed his reporting on allegations that the Governor of Togdheer Region, Mahamoud Ali Salebaan (Ramaax), had paid a smaller amount than the official government donation intended for a family in Burao whose house had been destroyed by fire. The Governor was accused of diverting part of the funds sent from Somaliland’s central authorities in Hargeisa. Governor Ramaax did not comment on his alleged role in the journalist’s arrest and reportedly interfered with the journalist’s release, blocking his freedom even after an initial court verdict on 27 September that acquitted Abdiaziz Awl due to a lack of evidence to justify his detention.
On 6 October, Somaliland police officers in Hargeisa beat and fired a live bullet at journalist Abdale Abaas, who works for the online media outlet Gallaydh TV in Hargeisa. Hassan Gallaydh, the founder of the television station, stated that the journalist was on duty, filming the opening ceremony of a new business at Hargeisa City Centre, when three police officers attacked him and fired at him. Fortunately, the journalist and other people at the scene escaped unharmed. Gallaydh TV reported that they had informed the police commander about the incident, but no action has been reported so far.
On 30 September, Somaliland police in Hargeisa arrested journalist Abdirahman Abdullahi Isse, known as Jumbo, who writes on Facebook. He was detained at the CID headquarters in connection with his Facebook posts about security incidents in Hargeisa. He was released on 4 October without being charged.