MOGADISHU, Somalia 11 February 2024 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) voices its concern over the prolonged arbitrary detention of MM Somali TV founder and journalist, Mohamed Abdi Ilig, in Hargeisa. Today marks his 37th day in custody.

On Saturday 10 February, the Hargeisa-based Maroodi Jeex Regional Court has once again prolonged the detention of Mohamed Abdi Ilig by an additional seven days. This marks the second extension within the past fortnight. Previously, the court had issued a similar order to extend the detention by seven days on January 30, which expired last week.

Ilig was detained on 6 January, 2024 after moderating a political debate on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the Somaliland-Ethiopia MOU, which was hosted by MM Somali TV on the same day.

Even though neither the police nor the attorney general’s office has pressed any charges, SJS has obtained a charge sheet dated 12 January, 2024, issued by the Somaliland National Intelligence Agency (NIA). This document cites Article 200 (Political or Military Espionage) and Article 220 (Offending the Honour or Prestige of the Head of the State) of the penal code as the charges against Ilig. MM Somali TV Colleagues speaking to SJS after Tuesday’s court appearance, have confirmed that these two charges are the only ones known at present. Police and the attorney general’s office did not respond to our queries seeking comment.

On 1 February, Somaliland police in Berbera arbitrarily detained journalist Abdirahman Mohamed Ige of the privately-owned Horyaal TV after he posted criticisms regarding the manager of the Berbera fuel storage facility, Ahmed Ibrahim, on his Facebook page. Specifically, two of his posts, as reviewed by SJS, accused the government-appointed manager of nepotism by allegedly favoring close clan associates in employment practices. The manager reportedly filed complaint at the police resulting the journalist’s detention.

After spending five days in police custody, Abdirahman was released on 6 February, following a decision by a judge in the Berbera court who declined police requests to further detain him. Notably, upon his release, the Facebook posts in question were removed from the journalist’s page. Nevertheless, Abdirahman said he was glad to gain his freedom and expressed his determination to persist in shedding light on matters of public concern despite the ordeal.

SJS reiterates its call to Somaliland authorities to release Mohamed Abdi Ilig, the founder of MM Somali TV, and to halt the unwarranted actions aimed at harassing and intimidating both Ilig and his colleagues at MM Somali TV. The continued prolongation of his arbitrary detention serves no purpose other than to undermine Ilig’s morale, despite authorities being fully aware that he has not committed any criminal offense.

“We urge President Muse Bihi Abdi of Somaliland to exercise his authority and release Mohamed Abdi Ilig from detention. Furthermore, we implore him to instruct security officials to cease their intimidation tactics against journalists from MM Somali TV and other media practitioners within Somaliland,” said SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Ahmed Mumin.

“Journalism should not be met with threats of incarceration or harassment, especially when journalists are simply facilitating public interest discussions, in which even Somaliland officials have participated in such discussions,” Mumin adds.

MOGADISHU, Somalia 31 January, 2024 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is deeply troubled by the continued incarceration of Mohamed Abdi Ilig, the founder and journalist of MM Somali TV in Hargeisa, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. Furthermore, SJS urges a reevaluation of Lower House of the Somali Parliament’s approach to independent media access within the House of People.

Since 6 January, 2024, Mohamed Abdi Ilig has been held in detention after moderating a X (formerly Twitter) discussion regarding the Somaliland-Ethiopia MOU, which was hosted by MM Somali TV on the same day. Initially detained alongside two colleagues, reporter Mohamed Abdi Abdullahi (known as Andar) and cameraman Ilyaas Abdinasir, the latter two were released on January 9 without charges.

On 14 January, Maroodi Jeex Attorney General Abdirahman Iid Mohamed has directed the national intelligence to transfer Ilig to the police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) citing the intelligence agency’s “lack of legal jurisdiction to investigate a crime and bring it before a court,” according to MM Somali TV colleagues and documents seen by SJS. Subsequent to this directive, Ilig, the founder, and journalist of MM Somali TV, was moved to the police cells in Hargeisa, where he is presently detained. Colleagues have noted a deterioration in his health since this transfer.

On Tuesday, 30 January, Ilig appeared before the Maroodi Jeex Regional Court in Hargeisa, where his detention was prolonged for an additional seven days and no lawyers representing Ilig were present at the time, as reported by his colleagues to SJS.

Even though neither the police nor the attorney general’s office has pressed any charges, SJS has obtained a charge sheet dated 12 January, 2024, issued by the Somaliland National Intelligence Agency (NIA). This document cites Article 200 (Political or Military Espionage) and Article 220 (Offending the Honour or Prestige of the Head of the State) of the penal code as the charges against Ilig. MM Somali TV Colleagues speaking to SJS after Tuesday’s court appearance, have confirmed that these two charges are the only ones known at present. Police and the attorney general’s office did not respond to our queries seeking comment.

In Mogadishu, SJS expresses concern over the threats and obstruction faced by journalists and media stations reporting on parliamentary activities within the Lower House (People’s House) of Somalia’s Federal Parliament.

On 22 January, NISA and police officers denied access Somali Cable TV journalists who were trying to cover the parliament’s Lower House proceedings of the day.  The journalists told SJS that the reason was linked to a video clip aired on Saturday, showing a Member of Parliament spraying water on parliament officials during the opening of the Saturday 20 January session. These limitations have impacted over 10 media stations and their journalists. Some of them were readmitted only after issuing apologies to the NISA officers stationed in the parliament and pledging not to cover anything deemed critical to the government.

According to several journalists interviewed by SJS, NISA agents extended their prohibitions to include interviews with lawmakers who are known to be critical or in opposition to the government. These restrictions commenced on 2 January, coinciding with the day President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s addressed the joint parliament session.

Furthermore, on 2 January, the Lower House’s Office of Communications and Media Relations issued a notice to independent media via WhatsApp, instructing that all media station must present letters of accreditation from the Ministry of Information by 10 January as a prerequisite for covering parliamentary proceedings.

Upon contacting the Lower House’s Office of Communications and Media Relations, a senior director told SJS that their intention was not to limit independent media, asserting that they are actively addressing these measures. However, this senior director refrained from commenting on their awareness of the NISA blockade against independent media. SJS remains committed to advocating for media access to the parliament, irrespective of their critical stance, and will persist in these efforts.

“The ongoing detention of our colleague, founder and journalist of MM Somali TV, Mohamed Abdi Ilig, constitutes a clear infringement of his rights and a blatant violation of press freedom. We express our deep concern about the extension of his detention by another seven days despite him committing no wrongdoing,” said Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the Secretary-General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS). “We urge the Somaliland authorities to uphold their own constitution and refrain from targeting journalists like Ilig who engage in discussions on matters of public interest. It is crucial to recognize that journalism is not a crime.”

“We urge the Somali Federal Parliament’s Lower House to reassess its approach to independent media houses covering parliamentary activities. The denial of journalists’ access to the House not only hampers press freedom, but also adversely impacts citizens’ access to crucial information about parliamentary proceedings. A robust scrutiny of elected representatives and the working of the parliament is a fundamental aspect of any democracy, with journalists playing a pivotal role. Hence, they must be granted maximum access to fulfill their vital function,” added Mumin.

MOGADISHU, Somalia 9 January, 2024 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) strongly condemns the recent surge in attacks targeting critical media institutions and detention of journalists in Hargeysa and Mogadishu.

On the night of Saturday, January 6, 2024, Somaliland police conducted a raid on the MM Somali TV studio, a privately-owned station, in Hargeisa during a discussion on the Somaliland-Ethiopia Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The police violently detained MM Somali TV founder Mohamed Abdi Ilig, reporter Mohamed Abdi Abdullahi (known as Andar), and cameraman Ilyaas Abdinasir. Although reporter Mohamed Abdi Abdullahi (Andar) and cameraman Ilyaas Abdinasir were released on the afternoon of January 9 without charges, the station’s founder Mohamed Abdi Ilig remains in detention without any charges brought against him.

Additionally, on January 7, armed police officers executing eviction orders from the Banadir Regional Court chairman, targeted RTN TV reporter Abdihafid Nor Barre and cameraman Abdukadir Abukar Ali in Mogadishu’s Waberi district. The television crew was covering the eviction incident, conducting interviews with family members residing in the affected property. The interviewed family members asserted that the eviction was unlawful and implicated senior court officials in the case. The journalists were forced to flee to safety after an armed police officer pointed a gun at them while the reporter was recording a piece-to-camera clip. The station’s editor told SJS that Abdihafid and Abdukadir left the site unharmed.

While expressing our concern about the rise of hate speech and the calls for violence in the wake of the Somaliland-Ethiopia MOU, SJS emphasizes the importance of maintaining an open and free space for diverse views. However, we note the increasing fear among journalists and media stations in Somaliland and Mogadishu when presenting diverse perspectives which also impacted the ordinary citizens.

“While we welcome the release of MM Somali TV reporter Mohamed Abdi Abdullahi (Andar) and cameraman Ilyaas Abdinasir after their detention on Saturday night, we call for the immediate and unconditional freedom of Mohamed Abdi Ilig, the founder of MM Somali TV, who remains in detention in Hargeisa,” said SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Ahmed Mumin.

“In the realm of media, the primary duty is to tell the story, and no journalist or media entity should face intimidation for expressing political perspectives that may differ from prevailing sentiments. We call for the preservation of freedom of speech and endorse the right to engage in unfettered and independent media reporting—a fundamental requirement for any thriving democratic society,” Mumin added.

MOGADISHU, Somalia 31 December 2023 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) expresses profound concern over the apparent lack of progress in the investigation into the ‘assassination-style’ suicide bombing that claimed the life of our colleague, Abdifatah Moalim Nur (Qeys), the director of Somali Cable TV in Mogadishu on 16 October 2023. SJS demands for the immediate initiation of an independent investigation as new details continue to emerge.

Upon revisiting the incident that occurred on 16 October 2023, at the Blue-Sky Restaurant in the vicinity of the presidential palace, The Villa Somalia, SJS has identified a concerning pattern of events before and after the tragic suicide bombing that resulted in Abdifatah’s death and the injury of several others.

Eyewitness accounts and information from colleagues and security personnel reveal a troubling incident where a security officer stopped and subsequently released the individual who would later carry out the suicide bombing just outside the restaurant around 9:00 pm on Monday night, 16 October. The absence of any official investigation to date raises serious questions about the transparency surrounding the death of our colleague.

“In our recent interviews with multiple sources, including eyewitnesses, colleagues, anonymous police sources, security experts and hospital sources, a very concerning trend has emerged regarding the death of Abdifatah Moalim Nur (Qeys), who was killed in a bombing attack on the night of 16 October 2023,” stated SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Mumin.

Contrary to the initial police statement posted on Twitter (now X) on the night of the incident, new information from police sources confirms that Abdifatah died while en route to the hospital, not at the scene of the attack. The police statement further said “4 people were injured and the journalist, Abdifitah Qeys, the director of Somali Cable TV Mogadishu, died.” However, the identity of the four others were never revealed.

Mumin added, “What the sources confirmed is that Abdifatah died while aboard a police pick-up vehicle, as there was no ambulance service available. This is completely contrary to what was previously reported by the Mogadishu police.” This was corroborated by accounts from medics at the Madina Hospital where Abdifatah’s body was brought that night.

Eyewitnesses reported the presence of officers from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) at the restaurant during the incident, but inquiries about their activities at that specific time were met with silence.

Two sources from Somali Cable TV told SJS that Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack on a Telegram channel. However, they remain uncertain whether Abdifatah’s name was specifically mentioned in the posting and SJS could not access the Telegram message. Media reports also highlighted the claim on the Telegram channel a day after the attack.

Threats Received Prior to the Attack

Documentation from SJS reveals that Abdifatah had previously reported receiving threats against his life due to Somali Cable TV’s reporting, particularly between January to October 2023.

New information indicates that government officials, including one from the Ministry of Information and another from the Ministry of Internal Security, made threatening calls and sent text messages to Abdifatah following the station’s report on the killing of a local construction engineer in Mogadishu by an alleged member of the Ma’awisley militia, a government-allied clan militia group, on 3 January 2023. The threats led to the modification of the television story’s title by removing the name of the “Ma’awisley”.

Colleagues disclosed that Abdifatah, during an editorial meeting on the day after the Ma’awisley story, mentioned a threat from the deputy minister of information, Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adaala, who demanded “bring evidence for the story or be prepared of severe consequences” for “insulting the Ma’awisley militia”. A week later, police officers from the Banadir police division demanded the Somali Cable TV staff to provide the contacts of the victim’s family but the demand was turned down by the television editors.

On 5 October 2023, Somali Cable TV interviewed a military officer in Mogadishu who allegedly said that “Al-Shabaab members in Mogadishu were utilizing drugs and prostitution“. The journalist, however, pressed counter-questions against the officer during the interview. Colleagues at the station told SJS that following the interview broadcast, Abdifatah had told them of receiving “threats of retaliation” from unknown callers and even cautioned his colleagues to be watchful of potential risky interviews in the future.

Despite these threats, no investigation took place.

Feeling unsafe, Abdifatah expressed his intention to leave the country for a short break on 11 October 2023.

Day of the Attack

Abdifatah’s routine on the day of the attack appeared normal. After completing his tasks which included producing a story on the war in Gaza, and he left for lunch at 3:00 pm (local time) before heading to the Blue-Sky restaurant for a work-related meeting in the evening. Eyewitnesses told SJS that he saw Abdifatah in the restaurant’s open yard shortly after 7:00 pm (local time).

Colleagues at Somali Cable TV confirmed Abdifatah’s was busy on preparing and inviting sources for an upcoming talk show addressing unsafe buildings in Mogadishu, which had caused multiple deaths recently. The talk show, however, never aired.

The restaurant where the incident took place, according to all sources, remains closed to this day.

“The death of Abdifatah Moalim Nur (Qeys) cannot be another forgotten case of a killed colleague. It deserves a thorough investigation, and the culprits must be apprehended, regardless of their affiliations,” said SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Mumin, “SJS reiterates its call to end impunity for crimes against journalists. Without investigations into the killings of journalists like Abdifatah, the safety of journalists and the wider citizenry in the country remains in jeopardy.”