MOGADISHU, Somalia 19 March 2026 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) strongly condemns the violent arrest and confiscation of equipment from two women journalists in Mogadishu on Wednesday, 18 March, while they were covering a public protest against forced evictions in Mogadishu’s Dayniile district.
Kaab TV journalist Amiro Sulaiman Ibrahim and Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman from Five Somali TV were violently arrested by armed police officers reportedly led by Captain Jamilo Faradar. The officers beat Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman before forcing her into a police vehicle.
Both journalists told SJS that they were taken to Dayniile police station, where they were detained before being released later in the afternoon.
Although the two reporters were freed, police confiscated their equipment. Kaab TV reported that its camera equipment, including a camera, microphones, and a memory card, has still not been returned.
The journalists witnessed police opening fire on civilians, resulting in deaths and injuries, the station said.
On Wednesday night, armed police officers from Hamar Jajab Police Station raided the home of Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman and rearrested her. A colleague told SJS that officers beat Iqro before taking her to the police station, where she remains in detention.
“We strongly condemn the arrest of two women journalists, Amiro Sulaiman Ibrahim of Kaab TV and Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman of Five Somali TV. We also condemn the physical assault of Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin. “We call for respect for press freedom, the protection of journalists, and the immediate return of the camera equipment confiscated from Kaab TV.”
“Last night, police raided the residence of Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman and beat her before rearresting her. These attacks are a blatant violation of media freedom and the safety of journalists, particularly women journalists working in an already dangerous environment,” Mr. Mumin added.