At approximately 2:00 a.m. on 9 June 2026, armed police officers led by Sool Regional Police Commander Khadar Mohamed Farah raided the homes of Mukhtar Abdi Jama, a local reporter and head of a local journalists’ association in Las Anod, and Abdiqani Abdirahman Mohamed, an online journalist based in Las Anod. Both journalists have faced intimidation and threats in recent weeks.

Mukhtar and Abdiqani told SJS that armed police officers forcibly entered their homes terrorizing their families. Abdiqani was taken to a nearby police station, where he was questioned about his alleged involvement in interviews conducted with families of prisoners held in Somaliland jails. After approximately one hour of questioning, he was released and allowed to return home. Mukhtar was not arrested during the raid but described the incident as an act of intimidation.

The raids followed the announcement on 8 June 2026, by local journalist Abdalle Qaalib of the release of a video documentary featuring the testimonies of seven families in Las Anod who claimed that their relatives were among those detained in Somaliland prisons. According to the families, some of the detainees “were captured” during the deadly conflict between SSC-Khaatumo forces and Somaliland forces in 2023, while others were civilians allegedly arrested because of their identity.

On 9 June, Abdalle Qaalib published the documentary on his personal Facebook page, which highlighted complaints from the affected families. The families accused authorities in Las Anod of “neglecting the plight of prisoners” held in Somaliland and called for urgent efforts to “secure their release without condition”.

Following the publication of the documentary, Abdalle Qaalib reported receiving threats from police officers, forcing him into hiding. In a statement published on 10 June, Qaalib said he had taken up the issue because two of his “cousins” were among approximately 108 prisoners reportedly being held in various prisons in Somaliland.

Days later, a Somaliland-based media aired interviews with a group of women in Hargeisa who said they were the wives and family members of prisoners held in Las Anod prison. These families similarly appealed for the release of their loved ones.

Tensions in Las Anod escalated in late 2022 following a series of unresolved assassinations targeting local political and community leaders. Protests against the Somaliland administration were met with a deadly security crackdown triggering direct armed confrontations between Somaliland forces and local SSC-Khaatumo fighters. The conflict was marked by intense fighting and indiscriminate shelling, resulting in hundreds of deaths, injuries, and the displacement of more than 200,000 civilians, as documented by the rights group Amnesty International. By August 2023, SSC-Khaatumo forces had established full control over Las Anod. During and after the conflict, both sides captured individuals whom they accused of participating in hostilities.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which has visited detainees held by both parties, estimates that hundreds of prisoners remain in detention. A limited prisoner exchange took place in April 2025.

Media outlets in both Somaliland and Las Anod have repeatedly reported on the appeals of families seeking information about and freedom for their detained relatives in recent months.

“We are extremely concerned that authorities in Las Anod are using intimidation, threats, arbitrary detention, and harassment for carrying out their professional duties of reporting issues of public concern.  We remind Las Anod police and the Northeastern State officials that reporting on matters of public interest, including the concerns of families affected by conflict and detention, is a legitimate journalistic activity protected under international standards on freedom of expression,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“SJS calls on police officers in Las Anod and government authorities to end the harassment that is particularly targeting journalists reporting on the issue of prisoners and their families. The local authorities can seek better solutions to address the matter rather than silencing journalists who are conveying what the families are saying,” added Mr. Mumin.

Environmental journalism remains one of the most underreported areas in Somalia and Somaliland, despite the Horn of African region facing one of the world’s most severe climate and environmental crises. Journalists covering environmental issues frequently encounter intimidation, restricted access to information, lack of safety mechanisms, and inadequate resources to conduct field reporting.

To contribute to addressing this reporting gap, SJS, with support from Medico International, trained and mentored ten journalists from ten different regions and towns across Somalia and Somaliland, particularly from areas heavily affected by climate change. Through this initiative, journalists were equipped with skills and support to investigate and report on climate-related challenges affecting vulnerable communities across the country.

The 2026 World Environment Day theme, “Protected Environment, Stable Climate, and a Greener Future,” resonates strongly in Somalia and Somaliland, where recurring droughts, deforestation, erratic rainfall patterns, floods, environmental degradation, and conflict continue to threaten livelihoods and displace communities. Millions of Somalis remain vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Not Only Storytellers: Journalists in Somalia and Somaliland have become survivors of the climate crisis

Since beginning of January 2026, SJS documented several incidents involving journalists reporting on environmental and humanitarian issues.

In Mogadishu, Somali police continued their crackdown on journalists covering forced evictions in the capital. According to data collected by eviction monitoring groups, 195,164 people were affected by forced evictions in 2025, many of which were carried out without prior notice and involved violence by police and other state security forces. The number of forced evictions in Somalia increased by more than 20 percent between January and May 2026, according to the humanitarian groups. SJS documented the arrests of seven journalists (four women and three men) between February and April 2026 solely for reporting on these evictions.

On 4 March 2026, Somaliland police in Erigabo, Sanaag region, arrested local journalist Mohamed Saleban Ahmed, known as Suute, after he published a report highlighting drought conditions in the Sool and Sanaag regions. Suute was detained for two days before being released without charge and was subsequently charged with “spreading false information.” The Erigabo District Court later summoned him to appear in court. According to court documents reviewed by SJS, the Somaliland government was listed as the complainant. Suute’s report included testimonies from drought-affected rural communities who stated that they had not received humanitarian assistance despite severe hardship.

The prosecution occurred despite Somaliland’s own acknowledgement of the drought crisis. In July 2025, Somaliland declared a national emergency due to drought affecting four regions, including Sanaag. President Abdirahman Abdillahi Irro appealed to international partners and Somaliland diaspora worldwide to support emergency relief efforts. United Nations humanitarian assessments later reported that “more than 650,000 people had been affected by drought across Somaliland,” while aid agencies estimated that over 80 percent of rural households had experienced severe water shortages and agricultural losses.

Similarly, on 26 May 2026, South West State police in Baidoa arrested local journalist Abdirahman Hassan Mohamed after he interviewed women khat traders who alleged that federal government security forces had looted their goods and mobile phones during an operation in the city.  Journalists in Baidoa also reported increasing threats and intimidation while covering political tensions and armed confrontations between forces aligned with the Federal Government and those loyal to former South West State leader Abdiaziz Laftagareen. Armed clashes erupted in Baidoa on 30 May 2026, causing casualties and further worsening humanitarian conditions in the region.

At the same time, humanitarian agencies have warned of “a growing risk of famine” in parts of South West State, particularly Buurhakaba district, where prolonged drought and conflict continue to affect communities.

On 28 May 2026, police in Las Anod arrested journalist Khadar Tarabi following a Facebook post regarding a visit by a Puntland minister to Kalabaydh in the Sool region, an area affected by both climate-related challenges and ongoing security tensions. Journalists in Las Anod informed SJS that media workers have faced restrictions and intimidation when attempting to independently report on local conflicts and humanitarian concerns.

In late May 2026, armed clashes between clan militias in a rural area of the Sool region resulted in deaths, the destruction of homes, and the displacement of civilians following a dispute over a new settlement in a rural village. Journalists reported difficulties accessing affected communities and significant obstacles to independent reporting, limiting public access to information about the humanitarian impact of the violence.

Across Somalia, humanitarian response efforts remain severely underfunded. Global economic pressures, rising food and fuel prices, and restrictions on humanitarian access in Al-Shabaab-controlled areas have further complicated relief operations. Civilians from inaccessible regions continue to move toward government-controlled towns in search of assistance and protection.

SJS Climate Journalists Network reported that widespread crop failures and livestock deaths in Jubaland, have deepened food insecurity and undermined livelihoods. In early January, Jubaland State announced that severe drought conditions have displaced thousands of families and left an estimated 1.5 million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.

In Afmadow district, near Somalia’s border with Kenya, journalists witnessed thousands of newly displaced families have sought shelter in makeshift settlements after losing livestock and livelihoods due to prolonged drought and failed rains.

SJS notes that journalists are not only documenting the impacts of climate change; many are directly affected by the crisis themselves.

In Baidoa, Southwest State, where internally displaced persons constitute approximately two-thirds of the city’s population, many journalists supported by SJS come from displaced families or households affected by drought and food insecurity. Similar situations exist across Gedo and other parts of Jubaland.

In Beledweyne and Jowhar, Hirshabelle State, many journalists have experienced the direct consequences of repeated flooding, with family members displaced and livelihoods disrupted.

“in many parts of Somalia and somaliland, Women journalists face particular vulnerabilities, especially those serving as primary income earners for their households. The economic and social pressures created by climate-related disasters have disproportionately affected women media workers and their families,” — said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

Recognizing these realities, SJS has gone beyond providing professional training. In addition to mentoring environmental journalists, SJS has provided direct support and emergency assistance to journalists facing urgent humanitarian needs, enabling them to continue their important work while navigating the impacts of climate change on their own lives and communities.

On World Environment Day 2026, SJS reaffirms its commitment to promoting environmental journalism and supporting journalists reporting on climate change and humanitarian crises. SJS urges authorities in Somalia and Somaliland, in particular, to protect journalists, end harassment and arbitrary arrests, and ensure access to information that serves the public interest.

“Somali journalists play a vital role in exposing the impacts of climate change, but many are also among those affected by droughts, floods, displacement, and economic hardship. As both witnesses and survivors of the climate crisis, they deserve greater protection and support to continue their essential work,”  — Mr. Mumin added.

On 26 May 2026, South West State police in Baidoa arrested local journalist Abdirahman Hassan Mohamed, one day after he interviewed women khat sellers who complained about an armed robbery allegedly carried out by Somali federal government forces deployed in the city. The interviews were published on Gacal Media, a Facebook-based media platform where Abdirahman works.

Abdirahman told SJS that on Monday, 25 May, he was in central Baidoa when federal government forces opened fire in the city market and allegedly looted khat (miraa) and mobile phones. Several women traders later spoke to the journalist, describing the incident as a robbery and calling on federal authorities to intervene and provide justice.

According to Abdirahman, the following day he was summoned to the Baidoa police station. Upon responding to the summons, he was informed by the head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Dahir Hassan Omar, that he was being arrested for publishing the women’s complaints. Abdirahman said he was told that his arrest “had been ordered by the Bay Regional Police Commander, Sadiq Doodishe.

He remained in police custody without charge until Thursday, 28 May, when he was released.

Baidoa police officials have not yet commented on the journalist’s arrest.

Local journalists told SJS that armed robberies have become an increasingly common problem in Baidoa in recent months, prompting affected residents to speak out through the media despite efforts by local authorities to discourage coverage of the incidents.

Journalists also told SJS that reporting on the conflict between the federal government-backed administration in Baidoa and forces loyal to the former South West State leader, Abdiaziz Laftagareen, has exposed them to threats and intimidation. On Saturday, 30 May, armed clashes erupted in Baidoa between the two sides, resulting in casualties. Civilians have been caught in the middle of the conflict, while the humanitarian situation in the region remains a serious concern.

In its most recent report, the United Nations has confirmed “a real and credible risk of famine in Buurhakaba district” in South West State, while warning that other towns in the region are also being affected by the worsening humanitarian crisis.

“Instead of addressing the reported armed robbery, police in Baidoa decided to arrest the journalist who broke the story. This signals the increasing pressure faced by the journalist community in South West State which is unfortunate,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin “We urge South West State authorities to refrain from using police to intimidate journalists. Police should guarantee the safety and independence of media workers, as well as that of the local population—including women, who are often caught in the midst of this endless conflict—and to ensure that journalists can freely report on community complaints without fear of arrest, harassment, or retaliation.”

On Thursday, 28 May 2026, police in the Northeastern Regional Administration in Las Anod unlawfully arrested journalist Khadar Tarabi, following a Facebook post about a visit by a Puntland minister to Kalabaydh town in the Sool region.

According to journalists and family members, Khadar was in Kalabaydh town for the Eid holidays. During his stay, Puntland’s Minister of Justice, Constitution, Religious Affairs and Reconciliation, Hon. Abdirashid Barkhadle Warsame, visited the town.

On Thursday, Khadar Tarabi posted on his Facebook page information about the minister’s visit, stating that the minister “had travelled to Kalabaydh District in the Sool region, where he celebrated Eid with the local community and held meetings with elders, intellectuals, religious scholars, and youth representatives.”  The post added that “the minister reportedly encouraged residents to protect the environment, promote peace, and work collectively towards the district’s development and self-sufficiency.”

A colleague in Las Anod told SJS that Khadar was arrested in Kalabaydh on Thursday afternoon and taken to Las Anod, where he is currently being held without charge.

SJS has seen a photograph shared by Las Anod police showing the journalist handcuffed while in police custody.

In a statement, the police said they had “arrested Khadar Mohamed Tarabi in Kalabaydh district following a planned operation led by the Commander of Police Operations, Lt. Col. Abdirahman Mohamed Sirad.”

The police added that “Khadar is accused of involvement in activities that undermined security and disrupted public order in Kalabaydh district, posing a threat to the safety and stability of the local community.”

Since its formation in August 2025, the Northeastern State has faced opposition from both Puntland and Somaliland. Puntland officials have repeatedly stated that they do not recognize the Las Anod-based administration as a federal member state, despite its recognition by the Federal Government of Somalia. Somaliland authorities, meanwhile, continue to insist the area as part of their territory.

Officials from Puntland have repeatedly visited parts of the Sool and Sanaag regions, areas claimed by the Northeastern administration. Journalists reporting on these political disputes have frequently faced harassment, intimidation, and arrest.

Meanwhile, clashes erupted this week in a rural village in the Sool region between two clan militias over the settlement of a grazing area claimed by both communities. The fighting resulted in the deaths of two people, while militias burned houses built in the village of Madax Lagu Xoor, approximately 100 kilometers from Las Anod. Journalists in Las Anod told SJS that they have been prevented from independently reporting on the conflict and tensions in the area.

SJS calls for Khadar Tarabi’s immediate and unconditional release and urges authorities in Las Anod to respect journalists’ rights to carry out their professional duties without intimidation or retaliation.

“We strongly condemn the unlawful arrest and continued detention of journalist Khadar Mohamed Abdi, also known as Khadar Tarabi in Las Anod city since Thursday 28 May 2026. This is a clear violation of press freedom and the right to report on matters of public interest,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“SJS calls on the authorities in the Northeastern Regional Administration in Las Anod to immediately and unconditionally release the journalist, stop false accusations against him, and ensure that journalists are allowed to carry out their work without intimidation, harassment, or fear of reprisal,” Mr. Mumin added.

At around 8:20pm on Friday, the Mobile Vehicle Checkpoint Unit — a special police unit trained by the U.S Government — together with members of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), raided a local restaurant in Mogadishu’s Buulo Xuubey Wadajir district, where they beat and abducted three journalists: Mohamed Ibrahim Osman (Bulbul), Abdihafid Nor Barre and Abdishakur Mohamed Mohamud. The three journalists were having dinner at the restaurant when the raid began.

The officers, whose faces were covered with masks, wore gloves and carried tactical rifles fitted with optical sights while NISA officers with pistols stood next to them. According to the journalists and other eyewitnesses, the officers forcibly entered the restaurant and began pointing their guns at the journalists and other members of the public inside the crowded venue.

The three journalists told SJS that they were beaten with pistols and kicked as they were escorted out of the restaurant. Abdihafid Nor Barre sustained a head injury that caused bleeding after officers struck him on the head with a pistol. He was taken away handcuffed in a vehicle. Abdihafid was also blindfolded with his shirt while bleeding from the head.

“I sustained heavy kicks and punches to my chest and kidneys. They also beat me with their pistols and hit my kidneys. I am feeling immense pain,” Bulbul told SJS on Saturday morning.

“I was hit with a pistol by a NISA officer while two officers of the Mobile Vehicle Checkpoint Unit were pointing their guns at me with flashlights directed into my eyes. I became dizzy and could not see anything. I started shouting loudly so that people nearby could hear me, but they intensified the beating until I lost consciousness,” Abdihafid told SJS. “When I woke up, I was in their car, blindfolded and handcuffed, with my chest facing the ground.”

Abdishakur Mohamed Mohamud told SJS that, prior to the raid, their media office had received threats because of their reporting on forced evictions as well as the planned opposition protests in Mogadishu.

All three journalists were transported first to Hodan District Police Station in the city centre before being moved to Yaaqshiid District Police Station in the north of the city. There, the the Mobile Vehicle Checkpoint Unit and NISA officers who led the operation questioned them about what they were doing at the restaurant and confiscated their phones. The officers then began interrogating Mohamed Bulbul about a recent article published by The Guardian exposing violations against Sadia Moalim Ali, a young woman activist imprisoned in Mogadishu since 12 April for a peaceful protest.

Shortly before midnight, the journalists were transferred to the Banadir Regional Police Command near the NISA headquarters on the east of Mogadishu. At the police headquarters, the three journalists said they were presented to Mogadishu Police Chief Mahdi Omar Mumin, known as Moalim Mahdi, who threatened them “with death if they continued reporting on the opposition protests” scheduled for Sunday, 10 May.

Moalim Mahdi, a former Al-Shabaab terror group defector who previously involved in multiple attacks against journalists, also questioned Mohamed Bulbul about the recent piece with The Guardian concerning Sadia Moalim Ali which Bulbul co-reported.

“Moalim Mahdi asked me how I got the contacts and why I was interested in the case of Sadia Moalim Ali. I told him that it was my journalistic duty to do that and that Sadia is an innocent citizen that deserves advocacy,’ Mohamed Bulbul told SJS.

The journalists said that Moalim Mahdi told them he was “tired of arresting journalists” and that if they did not remain silent about the protests and other developments in Mogadishu, including the case of Sadia Moalin Ali, the only option remaining for them would be “death.”

While at the police headquarters, officers removed Abdihafid’s bloodstained clothes on the orders of Moalim Mahdi and instructed him to remain silent about the injuries he had sustained. Around midnight, the three journalists were released. Abdihafid Nor Barre and Mohamed Bulbul were later taken to a local hospital by colleagues.

Sources at the restaurant that came under the raid also told SJS that at least six other young Mogadishu residents active in political campaigns were also arrested and severely beaten, according to the journalists who saw them in custody. One of those detained is a young woman. All remain in detention as of Saturday morning.

When SJS contacted the commander of the Mobile Vehicle Checkpoint Unit, he declined to comment on last night’s raid.

“We express grave concern as we unequivocally condemn the continued misuse of internationally-funded security assistance in Somalia, including U.S-trained counter-terrorism units known as the Mobile Vehicle Checkpoint Unit in Mogadishu against our journalists and youth activists. The abduction of Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul, Abdihafid Nor Barre and Abdishakur Mohamed Mohamud is a direct assault on press freedom and civic space in Mogadishu,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“We call for an urgent, independent, and transparent investigation into the kidnappings, beatings, and threats against the three colleagues by the Mobile Vehicle Checkpoint Unit and NISA in Mogadishu, as we also urge accountability for all those responsible, regardless of rank or position,” added Mr. Mumin.

In a single day, at least five local journalists were arrested and had their equipment confiscated, placing immense pressure on journalists working in Mogadishu.

On 6 May 2026, armed police officers in Mogadishu’s Hamar Jajab District arrested Shukri Aabi Abdi and her cameraman Abdullahi Abdifatah Sidow of Shabelle TV while they were reporting from the scene of forced evictions. Shukri told SJS that the officers assaulted her, injured her finger, and confiscated her phone. The officers also seized the journalists’ camera equipment before taking them to the Hamar Jajab police station.

The two journalists were released later that afternoon without charge.

On the same day, armed police arrested two journalists — Ja’far Mohamed Jim’ale and cameraman Nur Hasan Ali of Kalsan TV— in Mogadishu while they were reporting from the site of another forced eviction taking place in the Warlaliska neighborhood of Dayniile District, north of Mogadishu. According to colleagues at Kalsan TV, the two journalists remain in detention and their whereabouts are unknown.

Armed clashes continued in the Warlaliska area that afternoon, resulting in the deaths of at least two local residents where forced evictions had intensified, according to media reports, while several others were injured, causing displacement among already vulnerable communities.

In the Hamar Jajab neighborhood, media reports indicated that women, children, and other vulnerable individuals were among those affected by the forced evictions carried out by armed police, which reportedly involved the use of live bullets to intimidate residents resisting the evictions. Just days ago, at least three civilians were killed in the same area as armed police conducted forced evictions.

On the evening of Wednesday, 6 May, armed police officers manning a security checkpoint on the Mogadishu airport road stopped and arrested Rowda Taakilo, a woman reporter working for the Goobjoog TV while she was walking on the street. Rowda told SJS that the officers confiscated her phone and forced her to hand over her passwords before transferring her to the Hodan police station, where she was held overnight.

She was released on Thursday morning, 7 May, without charge.

SJS is concerned that attacks on journalists covering forced evictions and police violence are increasing. It is particularly alarming that women journalists, especially field reporters covering the ongoing evictions, are facing escalating threats and attacks.

“We strongly condemn the arrests, intimidation, and confiscation of equipment targeting journalists covering forced evictions in Mogadishu. These actions represent a serious violation of press freedom and must end immediately,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin, “We also call for the immediate and unconditional release of the two Kalsan TV journalists – Ja’far Mohamed Jim’ale and cameraman Nur Hasan Ali – who remain in detention and whose whereabouts are currently unknown, and urge authorities to ensure their safety.”

“We further call on the authorities to cease all attacks, harassment, and intimidation against journalists and allow the media to carry out their work freely and without fear,” added Mr. Mumin.

In April, SJS launched the Youth Media Innovation Challenge under its Baraarug initiative, inviting submissions from young journalists across Somalia. The goal was to encourage youth creativity, provide a platform for young people to express their ideas, share their stories, and serve as a voice for their communities—particularly women and those who are often unheard.

Over a period of two weeks, the challenge received more than 20 applications and video submissions from different parts of the country. Women made up 30 percent of the participants. All entrants were young people competing through video production and storytelling, focusing on themes such as freedom of expression, youth issues, and women’s rights.

Following careful evaluation by a judging panel, the most impactful, creative, and deserving entries were selected for recognition. On World Press Freedom Day, SJS awarded four winners with cash prizes and honorary certificates in recognition of their work.

The winners are:

Position 1: Mohamed Jeilani Abukar (Mogadishu):  Mohamed’s story highlights Mogadishu’s only all-women newsroom, Bilan Media, and the daily challenges faced by women reporters and camera operators. It sheds light on the additional barriers they navigate in a conservative environment with significant restrictions on women. Watch Mohamed’s story on YouTube.

Position 2: Anisa Abdiasis Hussein (Mogadishu): Anisa, a journalist from a marginalized community, has previously experienced targeted attacks against media workers. Her story, “Why Telling the Truth is Dangerous?”, captures the lived reality of journalists in Mogadishu, highlighting risks such as arbitrary arrests, threats, and confiscation of equipment. Watch Anisa’s story on YouTube.

Position 3: Abdulkadir Yasin Abdulle (Galkayo, Central Somalia): Abdulkadir’s story, “The Clan Identity Trap: How Somali Women are Silenced,” amplifies the voices of women and youth, focusing on Somali women caught between their father’s and husband’s clan identities. This reality often limits their rights, including political participation and access to opportunities. Watch Abdulkadir’s story on YouTube.

Special Mention: Ismail Mohamed Sayidali: Ismail’s story highlights marriage discrimination faced by people with disabilities in Somalia.

“I was not expecting to come out on top because of the many participants. However, I did my best and carefully thought about how to present my story creatively, focusing on an important issue—women in the media and their rights. I am thankful to SJS. This has given me the motivation to produce more videos and continue advocating for human rights,” said Mohamed Jeilani Abukar.”

Second-place winner Anisa Abdiaziz Hussein said gathering material for her story took several days and came with challenges, but encouragement from colleagues helped her persist. She added: “I would like to encourage SJS to make this contest an annual event so that more young journalists can participate and build a strong profession. When there is competition, everyone strives to do their best, and that helps develop the careers of young journalists and content creators.”

SJS President, Mohamed Ibrahim congratulated the winners stating that: “On World Press Freedom Day, SJS is pleased to recognize both the courage and the resilience of young journalists and content creators working under extremely difficult conditions. Despite rising threats, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation, they continue to serve the public with professionalism and determination. Through initiatives like the Baraarug Youth Media Innovation Challenge, SJS remains committed to supporting young journalists, amplifying the voices of women and the youth, and defending the fundamental right to freedom of expression.”

Already operating under difficult conditions, media professionals in Somalia and Somaliland are confronting a surge in arbitrary arrests, threats, and intimidation by state authorities. This has created a climate of fear that undermines their ability to report freely and limits the public’s access to information—rights guaranteed under both Somalia and Somaliland constitutions.

Since January 2026, the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) has documented at least 18 violations against journalists, including the killing of a reporter in Kismayo. Local journalist Abshir Khalif Shidane was shot dead on 2 March 2026 by a Jubaland police officer, marking the first journalist killed in Somalia this year. A suspect has been arrested and remains in detention awaiting trial.

Other violations include restricted access to information, arbitrary arrests, threats, torture, confiscation of equipment, attacks on media houses, and kidnappings. Most cases have been reported in Mogadishu and Baidoa, where key electoral processes are expected to take place. Security forces—including police, intelligence, and special units—have intensified actions against journalists covering sensitive topics such as insecurity, forced evictions, land disputes, and political tensions.

Several journalists have been directly targeted. Mogadishu-based journalist Abdihafid Nor Barre was abducted twice this year, including one instance in which he was held in a military facility without charge. On 18 March 2026, two female journalists—Amiro Sulaiman Ibrahim (Kaab TV) and Iqro Abdullahi Abdirahman (Five Somali TV)—were violently arrested while reporting on forced evictions in Mogadishu. Iqro was beaten before being forced into a police vehicle.

The situation has further deteriorated with new censorship measures imposed by authorities. On 16 April, the Southwest State Minister of Security announced a ban on reporting insecurity, terrorist attacks, clan conflicts, and criticism of federal and regional officials. These restrictions come amid heightened tensions in Baidoa, where violence, political disputes, and attacks by Al-Shabaab have been reported.

In Mogadishu, on 15 April 2026, the Banadir Regional Police Commander warned journalists against discussing the “end of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term” or criticizing recent constitutional amendments, threatening to label violators as “criminals.”

Journalists in other regions have also faced repression. In Laascaanood, Abdiqani Abdirahman Mohamed was arrested on 26 March for publishing an interview on political tensions and was later released after being forced to apologize. Another journalist, Abdirisaq Abdirahman (“Kobciye”), was detained in February and compelled to delete a video report.

SOMALILAND

In Somaliland, at least three journalists have been arrested since the start of the year. Ahmed Zaki Ibrahim, founder of Warrame Media, was detained in Hargeisa on 22 February and remains in custody. Abdiqaadir Mohamed known as “Ishqi” was arrested in Borama on 5 March and released days later. Mohamed Saleban Ahmed (“Suute”) was arrested in Erigabo on 4 March following a report on drought conditions and continues to face intimidation.

As the international community commemorates World Press Freedom Day, SJS expresses grave concern over the worsening safety and security of journalists in Somalia. The ongoing pattern of violations, censorship, and intimidation reflects a shrinking space for press freedom and raises serious concerns about further abuses, particularly in the lead-up to elections.

“On this World Press Freedom Day, we are witnessing a dangerous decline in press freedom across Somalia and Somaliland. Journalists are increasingly targeted for doing their job—reporting the truth—through arbitrary arrests, threats, and violence in awhile Somalia is going through uncertainty over the federal and regional elections,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin. “Even women journalists were not spared from violent attacks by the state security forces.”

“This growing repression, especially in the lead-up to elections, not only silences the media but also denies the public their fundamental right to information. Both authorities in Somalia and Somaliland must end these violations and uphold their constitutional obligations to protect freedom of expression,” added Mr. Mumin.

On 16 April, following a meeting of the cabinet of ministers of Southwest State in Baidoa, Mohamed Hussein Hassan, known as “John”, the Minister of Security for the Southwest State, announced new measures banning “the reporting of insecurity, terrorist attacks, clan conflicts, and clan-based meetings”. The announcement also prohibited criticism of both federal and Southwest State officials on social media.

The new measures were introduced at a time of heightened tensions in Baidoa, where residents and media have reported repeated clan revenge killings and armed robberies in the city. Local clans and militia have also expressed dissatisfaction with the reported electoral process for the leadership of the Southwest State following the federal government’s takeover in late March. Media also reported Al-Shabaab attacks on Baidoa and outskirts in the past weeks.

On 15 April, the Banadir Regional Police Commander, Mahdi Omar Mumin, known as Moalin Mahdi, warned that journalists and critics who discuss the end of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term by 15 May would be labelled as “criminals.” He cautioned local media against broadcasting views that oppose the disputed constitutional amendments passed by a section of Somalia’s parliament in late March. Speaking at an event held at the Jazeera Hotel in Mogadishu that day, Moalin Mahdi also warned individual journalists for publishing a video clip exposing police abuses and violations against journalists in Mogadishu.

Moalin Mahdi, who has been responsible for numerous attacks on journalists, is a former militant member who now heads Mogadishu’s police force.

On 12 April, the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) arrested a local woman activist, Sadia Moalin Ali, who had spoken critically about youth unemployment, rising fuel prices, and taxation imposed on Mogadishu’s tuk-tuk drivers—issues that had sparked repeated protests in the city in March.

Against the backdrop of a deepening political transition, Somalia faces growing uncertainty as the term of parliament ended on 14 April and the president’s mandate is set to expire on 15 May. This unfolding crisis has heightened public anxiety in Mogadishu, where concerns over governance, constitutional disputes, and security are increasingly pronounced. In such a volatile environment, journalists play a critical role in keeping the public informed; however, the escalating threats and restrictions risk further undermining the safety of media professionals and silencing essential reporting at a crucial moment for the country.

“We strongly condemn the escalating threats, intimidation, and unlawful restrictions imposed on journalists and media outlets in Mogadishu and Baidoa. These actions represent a blatant attack on press freedom and are clearly intended to silence independent reporting at a critical moment in Somalia’s political transition,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“SJS calls on all authorities—federal, regional, and security agencies—to immediately cease threats against journalists and to guarantee their safety and protection. We urge all sides to respect freedom of expression and the role of the media, including journalists reporting on the end of institutional mandates, the ongoing political crisis, and the deteriorating security situation. A free and independent media is essential to ensuring transparency and informing the public during this sensitive period,” Mr. Mumin added.

On 4 March 2026, police in Erigabo arrested local journalist Mohamed Saleban Ahmed, known as Suute, following the publication of a news report on 3 February that discussed drought conditions in the Sool and Sanaag regions. Suute told SJS that he was released without charge after spending two days in police custody.

On 15 March, the Sanaag Regional Prosecutor of Somaliland, based in Erigabo, issued a charge sheet against the journalist, accusing him of “spreading false information.” On 18 March, the Erigabo District Court summoned the journalist to appear for a hearing in the case brought by the regional prosecutor. According to the charge sheet, which SJS had seen, the Somaliland government is listed as the “victim.”

The journalist’s report, which SJS reviewed, included interviews with rural communities who said they had not received aid despite being severely affected by the ongoing drought.

Suute told SJS that the Deputy Governor of the Sanaag region, Salah Yusuf Diriye, was pushing the case, alleging that local authorities were unhappy with the report and were attempting to silence public complaints about lack of aid. Deputy Governor Diriye was not reachable for comment upon publication of this report.

A local lawyer representing the journalist told SJS that the case has been heard twice, but no verdict has yet been issued.

In July last year, Somaliland declared a national emergency as drought affected four regions, including Sanaag, whose capital is Erigabo. President Abdirahman Abdillahi Irro made an urgent appeal to international donors and Somalilanders at home and abroad to support relief efforts aimed at saving lives and livelihoods.

According to an August 2025 report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 650,000 people were directly affected in Somaliland alone. Aid groups’ reports indicate that over 80% of rural households have been impacted by water shortages and agricultural losses in recent years.

Suute told SJS that he and other reporters visited numerous rural towns, witnessing the severe conditions firsthand, which he documented in his reporting.

SJS calls on the Somaliland authorities, particularly the Erigabo prosecutor, to stop targeting journalist Suute for reporting on and advocating for drought-affected communities. Authorities must respect journalists’ right to report on drought and climate-induced crises and ensure unhindered access to information to help save lives.

“The prosecution of journalist Mohamed Saleebaan Ahmed, known as Suute, for reporting on the devastating drought in Sool and Sanaag regions is both unjustified and deeply concerning. Journalists must not be punished for giving voice to voiceless communities in crisis,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“We call on the Sanaag Regional Prosecutor to immediately drop these unfounded charges and urge Somaliland authorities to guarantee all journalists the freedom to report on climate-induced crises without fear, interference, or restriction,” Mr. Mumin adds.