MOGADISHU, Somalia 31 December 2025 – 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.