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No Safety, No Justice: One Year, Three Murders, and a Growing Culture of Impunity Against Journalists in Somalia and Somaliland

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MOGADISHU, Somalia 3 November, 2025 – Between October 2024 and November 2025, Somalia and Somaliland witnessed a disturbing escalation in violations against journalists and media outlets. Despite ongoing national and international advocacy for press freedom, the environment for independent journalism remained perilous.

Three journalists were killed, dozens were detained, and numerous others faced intimidation, physical assault, censorship, and restrictions on their work. Security agencies, particularly the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and local police forces, continued to act with impunity, while online platforms also contributed to silencing journalists through content removal and account deletion.

Civil and criminal proceedings are repeatedly used to target journalists, often with judiciary officials and police in Somalia’s Mogadishu, Puntland, and Somaliland invoking penal code provisions to criminalize independent and critical reporting. SJS documented eight cases where journalists were prosecuted with penal code articles during the period of this reporting.

The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) documented 171 cases of media rights violations during this period, reflecting a sustained and systematic assault on press freedom across the country.

Journalists Killed and Media Violations in Somalia and Somaliland (October 2024 – November 2025)

The murder of Somali-Swedish journalist Amun Abdullahi Mohamed, 49-year-old, who was shot dead by Al-Shabaab militants near Afgooye town in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region—about 30 km from the capital Mogadishu—on 18 October 2024 remains uninvestigated. A year later, no perpetrators have been arrested. In its investigation, SJS learned that local police expressed fear and admitted their unwillingness to visit the site of the killing, as the area remains heavily controlled by Al-Shabaab.

MURDERED: Amun Abdullahi Mohamed (left), Mohamed Abukar Mohamed (centre) and Abdifatah Abdi Osman (right).
MURDERED: Amun Abdullahi Mohamed (left), Mohamed Abukar Mohamed (centre) and Abdifatah Abdi Osman (right).

Amun was not the only journalist killed by Al-Shabaab in recent times. On 18 March 2025, Al-Shabaab carried out a bombing attack in Mogadishu, killing several civilians, including journalist Mohamed Abukar Mohamed (known as Dabaashe), aged 31.

Sadly, Abdifatah Abdi Osman, 38, also known as Arab, a television technician for Astaan TV, a privately-owned cable network in Mogadishu, was shot dead by a gunman on the morning of 25 May 2025. SJS learned that police arrested a middle-aged suspect believed to be the gunman and that an investigation was ongoing. However, more than five months later, no update has been provided. Media reports indicated that clan elders from both sides had begun negotiations over possible blood money compensation (diya), though the authorities have not commented on these developments.

Two journalists sustained injuries, and 14 others faced physical assaults at the hands of security forces in Mogadishu and Somaliland.

Source: SJS Database Of Violations Against the Media.
Source: SJS Database Of Violations Against the Media.

Unending Arrests

Over the past year, SJS recorded 102 arrests, including the detention of six reporters in Mogadishu on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (November 2, 2025). These arrests account for 36.3% of all media rights violations documented in Somalia and Somaliland.

Restrictions on access to information and equipment confiscation have become widespread tactics used by security forces to prevent journalists from reporting.

The Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and the Mogadishu police remain the leading perpetrators of these violations. Since the return of NISA Director Mahad Mohamed Salad to the agency in June 2025, SJS has recorded a notable increase in cases where NISA officers have targeted, physically assaulted, and arbitrarily detained journalists, with some being held in undisclosed locations.

Civil and criminal proceedings are repeatedly used to target journalists, often with judiciary officials and police in Somalia’s Mogadishu, Puntland, and Somaliland invoking penal code provisions to criminalize independent and critical reporting. SJS documented eight cases where journalists were prosecuted with penal code articles during the period of this reporting. This misuse of the penal code against journalists remains a major obstacle to media freedom in Somalia and Somaliland.

Source: SJS Database Of Violations Against the Media.
Source: SJS Database Of Violations Against the Media.

Three media outlets were shut down during this period. Somaliland authorities continue to enforce the closure of Universal Somali TV due to its reporting on President Abdirahman Abdillahi Irro’s visit to the UAE in February 2025. In Mogadishu, police raided and briefly closed Radio Risaala , while in Southwest State, police temporarily closed Radio Wanlaweyn in Lower Shabelle for reporting on security matters.

SJS welcomes the decision issued last Thursday, just days before the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2025, by Meta’s Oversight Board. The Board found that Meta’s systems failed to protect independent journalism and public interest reporting in Somaliland. After reviewing four cases initially investigated by SJS, the Board confirmed SJS’s findings—that Meta wrongfully deleted journalists’ pages and removed content unlawfully. The Oversight Board has directed Meta to improve its mistake-prevention systems and appeals processes to ensure journalists’ pages and their content are not unjustly removed.

Of all violations documented by SJS, 143 male journalists (88.8%) and 18 female journalists (11.2%) were victims of press freedom violations across Somalia and Somaliland.

Source: SJS Database Of Violations Against the Media.
Source: SJS Database Of Violations Against the Media.

Conclusion and SJS Recommendations

The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) remains gravely concerned about the persistent culture of impunity that continues to endanger journalists and undermine press freedom in Somalia and Somaliland. The lack of accountability for the killings of Amun Abdullahi Mohamed, Mohamed Abukar Mohamed (Dabaashe), and Abdifatah Abdi Osman (Arab) reflects a deep failure by the authorities to protect journalists and uphold justice. This failure, coupled with the unending arrests, physical assaults, arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on access to information, has entrenched fear and self-censorship within the media community.

SJS strongly condemns all forms of violence, intimidation, and censorship targeting journalists and media houses.

SJS calls on the Federal Government of Somalia and the authorities in Somaliland to:

  • Ensure impartial and transparent investigations into all cases of murdered, assaulted, or detained journalists, and hold perpetrators accountable regardless of their position or affiliation.
  • End the use of security forces to silence the media, including arbitrary arrests, raids, and intimidation.
  • Review and amend penal code provisions that are being misused in Somalia and Somaliland against journalists and ensure that laws protect, rather than punish, independent and critical reporting.
  • Guarantee access to information and uphold freedom of expression as enshrined in Somalia’s Provisional Constitution of the Somali Federal Government and the Somaliland Constitution as well as the international human rights standards.
  • Allow the closed media outlets to resume operations -particularly the Universal TV in Hargeisa, and allow their journalists to operate freely without fear of reprisal.
  • Adopt concrete measures to address online harassment and digital attacks targeting journalists, particularly women, and strengthen digital safety mechanisms across media institutions in Somalia and Somaliland.

As the world observes the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists in 2025, SJS reiterates its unwavering commitment to defend press freedom, demand justice for slain and persecuted colleagues in Somalia, and advocate for a safe and enabling environment for all media professionals in Somalia and Somaliland.

Impunity must end — justice for journalists in Somalia and Somaliland cannot wait.

 

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Journalists in Somalia and Somaliland face arrests and attacks even on the International Day to End Impunity

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Six local journalists arrested in Mogadishu on IDEI 2025. | PHOTO/SJS.
Six local journalists arrested in Mogadishu on IDEI 2025. | PHOTO/SJS.

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.

Mogadishu court frees Himilo Media journalist after four days in jail for reporting forced evictions of vulnerable families

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Journalist Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim (second from right) poses for a photo a alongside SJS representatives and journalists. | PHOTO/SJS.
Journalist Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim (second from right) poses for a photo a alongside SJS representatives and journalists. | PHOTO/SJS.

MOGADISHU, Somalia – 15 October, 2025: The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) welcomes today’s release of Himilo Media journalist Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim after two consecutive days of court hearings in Mogadishu, Somalia, where he faced four defamation charges.

Two Himilo Somali TV (Himilo Media) journalists, Ahmed Mohamed Adan and Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim, were detained on Sunday, 12 October 2025, by Somali police in Mogadishu following a raid on the station’s studio. As SJS reported earlier, Mr. Adan was released the same night, however his colleague Mr. Ibrahim remained in police custody and was charged on Tuesday, 14 October, with four counts brought by a police prosecutor instead of the Attorney General’s office.

After learning that a police criminal investigator had interrogated the journalist while in custody, SJS swiftly mobilized legal team, who rushed to the Banadir Regional Court on Tuesday to provide legal defense.

“Today, on the second day of the court hearing at the Banadir Regional Court, the police brought four charges against our client, journalist Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim, in relation to his journalistic reporting. However, after our defense, the judge dismissed all charges and ordered our client’s release,” said defense lawyer Ali Halane.

The four charges included two under the Somali Penal Code—Article 220 (“Insulting the Honour and Reputation of the Head of State”) and Article 452 (paragraph 3) (“Defamation through Media”)—and two under the Somali Media Law (2020): Article 18 (“Registration of Journalists by the Ministry of Information”) and Article 29 (“Dissemination of False Information”).

The Somali Media Law remains problematic, and SJS has repeatedly raised concerns over its vague provisions, which threaten the work of independent journalists.

The journalist’s arrest was ordered by Mahdi Omar Muumin (Moalim Mahdi), the Commander of Mogadishu Police and a former defector from the Al-Shabaab militant group. The arrest followed Himilo Media’s coverage of forced evictions of vulnerable families, including women and children, in Mogadishu.

During the court proceedings, police presented several of the journalist’s reports, including one featuring an interview with an elderly man, Ahmed Siicow Mohamed, who was beaten and dragged by police officers and National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) agents during a forced eviction operation in the Siinaay neighborhood on 24 September. Other reports highlighted an injured man whose house was demolished and several displaced women left homeless, as Somalia’s capital continues to experience forced evictions that have affected more than 130,000 individuals, according to aid agencies.

Police also cited a fourth news report covering President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s recent failed talks in Kismayo with Jubaland authorities.

Defense lawyers representing Himilo Media journalist, Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim speak to the media. | PHOTO/SJS.
Defense lawyers representing Himilo Media journalist, Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim speak to the media. | PHOTO/SJS.

The defense lawyers stated that the journalist’s reporting was professional and conducted in accordance with the law, with no wrongdoing in any of Himilo Media’s broadcasts. The judge subsequently dismissed all charges and ordered the journalist’s immediate release.

However, the police prosecutor later announced their intention to appeal the verdict.

“I want to thank the media and fellow journalists for their solidarity and support. I also thank SJS for its prompt legal assistance and for standing with us from the beginning. We will continue to carry out our work professionally and without fear,” said Ahmed Mohamed Adan, the Director of Himilo Media and one of the two journalists arrested on Sunday. “We are not terrorists. We are journalists. We are free.”

SJS welcomes the release of Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim and his colleague Ahmed Mohamed Adan, and urges the Somali police in Mogadishu to end ongoing legal harassment and intimidation against journalists working for Himilo Media.

“The release of Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim is a victory for press freedom in Somalia. Journalists must be able to report on issues affecting the public, including the forced evictions of vulnerable families, without fear of arrest or intimidation,” said Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS). “We call on Somali authorities to respect journalists’ rights and end all legal harassment of media professionals.  We also urge all media organizations and journalists in Somalia to remain vigilant and united in defending press freedom. Arbitrary arrests and intimidation cannot silence the truth.

“SJS remains committed to providing legal support, advocacy, and protection for journalists across the country, ensuring they can continue their vital work safely and without fear,” added Mr. Mumin added.

Mogadishu police raid Himilo Media studio and arrest two journalists for reporting on forced evictions of vulnerable families

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Himilo Somali TV (Himilo Media) journalists, Ahmed Mohamed Adan and reporter Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim, were detained on Sunday, 12 October 2025. | PHOTO/Courtesy/ SJS.

MOGADISHU, Somalia 13 October 2025 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) condemns the arrest of two Himilo Somali TV (Himilo Media) journalists, Ahmed Mohamed Adan and reporter Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim, who were detained on Sunday, 12 October 2025, by Somali police in Mogadishu following a raid on the station’s studio.

Armed police officers, acting on the orders of the Somali Police Commissioner, Asad Osman Abdullahi, and the Banadir Regional Police Commander, Mahdi Omar Muumin (commonly known as Moalim Mahdi), raided the Himilo Media studio in Mogadishu’s Maka al-Mukarama Avenue. According to the station’s management, the journalists locked themselves inside the studio, prompting the police to leave temporarily.

Later in the day, officers from the Waberi Police Station phoned Himilo Media Director Ahmed Mohamed Adan and reporter Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim, summoning them to the station. Upon their arrival, both journalists were arrested and placed in detention. They were told that their arrest was linked to Himilo Media’s reports on forced evictions in Mogadishu.

In the evening, Director Ahmed Mohamed Adan was released without charge while reporter Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim remained in police custody.

A source at the station informed SJS that Moalim Mahdi, the Commander of Mogadishu Police and a former defector from the Al-Shabaab militant group, demanded that Himilo Media delete three recently published reports on the forced evictions of vulnerable families, including women and children, in Mogadishu.

One of the reports featured an interview with an elderly man, Ahmed Siicow Mohamed, who was beaten and dragged by police officers and the national intelligence and security (NISA) agents during a forced eviction operation in the Siinaay neighborhood on 24 September. The other two reports highlighted an injured man whose house was demolished and several vulnerable women who were left homeless.

The director of Himilo Media told SJS that the outlet refused to comply with this demand.

Screenshots: The police demanded that Himilo Media delete three of their reports that featured forcibly evicted families in Mogadishu.
Screenshots: The police demanded that Himilo Media delete three of their reports that featured forcibly evicted families in Mogadishu.

SJS strongly condemns the arrest of the two Himilo Media journalists. Himilo Media has been repeatedly targeted over the past few months for its courageous reporting on government human rights violations, including the ongoing forced evictions affecting Mogadishu’s most marginalized communities.

We demand the immediate release of Khadar Abdirahim and call for an end to the harassment, intimidation, and censorship against journalists working for Himilo Media.

“The actions by the Somali police against Himilo Media and its journalists represent a blatant abuse of power and a serious violation of press freedom and human rights,” said Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, Secretary General of SJS  “Arresting journalists and ordering the deletion of news reports on forced evictions is an unacceptable attempt to silence critical reporting and conceal abuses against vulnerable communities in Mogadishu.”

“We call for the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim and urge the authorities to end all forms of intimidation, harassment, and censorship targeting Himilo Media and other independent journalists,” Mr. Mumin adds.

Somaliland court reinstates Hadhwanaag News website suspension, journalists sentenced in absentia

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A screengrab of Hadhwanaag News website. | PHOTO/SJS.
A screengrab of Hadhwanaag News website. | PHOTO/SJS.

MOGADISHU, Somalia 29 September 2025 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) vehemently condemns the decision by the Maroodi Jeex Regional Appeals Court in Hargeisa, Somaliland, to suspend the independent news websites Hadhwanaagnews.com, Hadhwanaagnews.ca, and Hadhwanaagtv.com, and to sentence journalists affiliated with Hadhwanaag News to six months in prison and a fine of 500,000 Somaliland Shillings in absentia.

On 9 August 2025, a new suspension order was issued by the Maroodi Jeex Appeals Court. Judge Abdikarin Omar Abdi ordered the “reinstatement of the suspension imposed on the websites hadhwanaagnews.co, hadhwanaagnews.ca, and hadhwanaagtv.com.”  The decision, seen by SJS, also imposed a six-month prison sentence and a fine of 500,000 Somaliland Shillings (approx. $50) on each of the Hadhwanaag News journalists, who are currently outside the country.

The websites’ suspension first imposed in early September 2019, which had been lifted in February this year, has now been reinstated. The court also ordered “all local internet service providers to block” the websites.

Hadhwanaag News is an independent news outlet run by Canada-based Somaliland exiled journalists. For years, its reporters have faced relentless legal threats and persecution merely for exposing corruption allegations against former Central Bank Governor Ali Ibrahim Jama, widely known as Ali Baghdadi.

Ali Baghdadi, who returned from Canada, was appointed as Governor of the Central Bank in April 2018. In 2019, Hadhwanaag News published an article and photos showing the Governor constructing two modern buildings in Hargeisa, which sources alleged were “hotels and commercial spaces” registered “under concealed ownership and guarded by security forces”.

Following this exposé, Ali Baghdadi filed a lawsuit at the Maroodi Jeex Regional Court, which on 5 September 2019 ordered the suspension of the Hadhwanaag News website. Police in Hargeisa began targeting Hadhwanaag News journalists. On 10 September 2019, Editor Abdiqani Abdillahi Ahmed (Asbaro) and reporter Abdirisaq Goud Nur were arrested, followed by the arrest of reporter Abdirahman Sheikh Hassan on 19 September. They were freed on bail on 23 September after two weeks in detention, but later fled the country due to escalating threats, SJS reported at the time.

In April 2021, police arrested freelance journalist, Adan Abdi Idle, over similar reporting on the alleged “corruption of Ali Baghdadi.” He was released after two weeks in custody, as reported by SJS at the time.

Ali Baghdadi was eventually removed from office in a cabinet reshuffle in September 2021.

On 8 February 2025, the Maroodi Jeex Regional Court lifted the suspension on Hadhwanaag News websites. A court document signed by Judge Ilyas Da’ud Ibrahim stated that “the suspension order was lifted since the case has concluded and a decision has been issued.”

On 8 February 2025, the Maroodi Jeex Regional Court lifted the suspension on Hadhwanaag News websites.
On 8 February 2025, the Maroodi Jeex Regional Court lifted the suspension on Hadhwanaag News websites.

However, on 9 August 2025, the Appeals Court issued a new suspension order, reinstating the ban on the websites and reimposing prison sentences and fines on the journalists in absentia.

However, on 9 August 2025, the Maroodi Jeex Appeals Court issued a new suspension order, reinstating the ban on the websites and reimposing prison sentences and fines on the journalists in absentia.
However, on 9 August 2025, the Maroodi Jeex Appeals Court issued a new suspension order, reinstating the ban on the websites and reimposing prison sentences and fines on the journalists in absentia.

“This ruling by the Maroodi Jeex Appeals Court is a politically motivated attack on press freedom and independent journalism in Somaliland. By reinstating the suspension of Hadhwanaag News just five months after it was lifted, and sentencing its journalists in absentia, the authorities are sending a chilling message to all critical voices,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin “These actions not only violate Somaliland’s constitution but also undermine fundamental international human rights standards.”

“We urge on the Maroodi Jeex Regional Court to reverse this draconian decision and ensure the safety and freedom of all journalists. Somaliland authorities must ensure that journalists who investigate corruption and officials’ wrongdoings are not persecuted as such action will only diminish the role of the media as public interest watchdog,” Mr. Mumin adds.

Somaliland: 10 journalists arrested in three weeks

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Cover Photo: Somaliland journalist Ahmed Dool (right) is seen escorted by a police officer outside the Maroodi Jeh Court on 3 August, with his hands chained. Despite hopes that President Abdirahman Irro’s election in November last year would bring greater freedoms, attacks on free expression in Somaliland have escalated. | PHOTO/Courtesy/SJS.
Cover Photo: Somaliland journalist Ahmed Dool (right) is seen escorted by a police officer outside the Maroodi Jeh Court on 3 August, with his hands chained. Despite hopes that President Abdirahman Irro’s election in November last year would bring greater freedoms, attacks on free expression in Somaliland have escalated. | PHOTO/Courtesy/SJS.

MOGADISHU, Somalia 29 September 2025 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) expresses concern over the growing arrests, intimidation, and censorship of journalists in Somaliland, noting that 10 journalists have been arrested in the past three weeks.

On Saturday, 27 September, Somaliland police in Erigabo, Sanaag region, briefly arrested four local reporters: Sa’id Muse Farah (known as Sa’id Qurbawi) of Sabar TV, Ibrahim Abdi Adan (known as Murti), Mohamed Yusuf Ilkacase, and Sa’id Abdirahman. The journalists had been covering a visit by Somaliland’s Minister of Education, Ismail Yusuf Duale, to schools in Erigabo where three local schools reportedly closed and journalists had questioned the minister about the closure.

(From left to the right): Sa’id Muse Farah (known as Sa’id Qurbawi) of Sabar TV, Ibrahim Abdi Adan (known as Murti). | PHOTO/Courtesy/SJS.
(From left to the right): Sa’id Muse Farah (known as Sa’id Qurbawi) of Sabar TV, Ibrahim Abdi Adan (known as Murti). | PHOTO/Courtesy/SJS.

The four reporters were beaten and kicked by police after attempting to question Minister Duale about his visit. According to interviews conducted by SJS, they were then detained at the local police station for seven hours before being released without charge. A fifth reporter, Aidarus Jama Mohamed, managed to escape arrest. He told SJS that he sustained bruises on his back and legs after falling from a police vehicle.

Mohamed Yusuf Ilkacase (left), and Sa’id Abdirahman (right). | PHOTO/Courtesy/SJS.
Mohamed Yusuf Ilkacase (left), and Sa’id Abdirahman (right). | PHOTO/Courtesy/SJS.

On Saturday, 27 September, Somaliland police in Gabiley arrested local journalist Mohamed Wadiin after he reported on the arrest of clan elders in Wajale town by Somaliland authorities. The Somaliland Journalists Association confirmed the arrest to SJS. The elders had recently criticized the government’s decision to seize land in Wajale, a move they strongly opposed. Mohamed Wadiin, who reports primarily through his Facebook page with over 100,000 followers, was taken into custody. Journalists in Gabiley told SJS that he remains detained without an arrest warrant, despite the Somaliland constitution prohibiting arrests without due process.

Mohamed Wadiin (left) and Abdiaziz Saleban Sulub, also known as Abdiaziz Awl (right). PHOTO/Courtesy/SJS.
Mohamed Wadiin (left) and Abdiaziz Saleban Sulub, also known as Abdiaziz Awl (right). PHOTO/Courtesy/SJS.

On 12 September, Somaliland police in Burao, Togdheer region, arrested Abdiaziz Saleban Sulub, also known as Abdiaziz Awl, a reporter for KF Media TV, an online media channel. On 13 September, the Togdheer Regional Court granted police a request to detain the journalist for seven days pending investigation. No official reason was provided for his arrest. However, local journalists told SJS that the order came from the Togdheer governor, who accused Abdiaziz of negative reporting. On 27 September, the Togdheer Regional Court acquitted Abdiaziz after he had spent 18 days in detention. But according to a local lawyer and human rights defender, the journalist remained in custody despite the acquittal, as the Togdheer Attorney General—representing the governor—appealed the court’s decision.

On 11 September, Somaliland police in Borama, Awdal region, arrested three journalists: Horn Cable TV reporter Ahmed Sheikh Muse Hassan (known as Buudhi), CBA TV reporter Abdirisaq Omar Mee’aad (known as Awliyo), and cameraman Ahmed Dayib. Local journalists told SJS that the brief arrest was ordered by the Governor of Awdal Region. The three were held at Borama police station and released the same day. No official reason was given for the arrest. However, journalists told SJS that the governor was angered by local reporters’ critical coverage of him, particularly during President Abdirahman Irro’s recent visit to Borama.

(From left to the right): Horn Cable TV reporter Ahmed Sheikh Muse Hassan (known as Buudhi), CBA TV reporter Abdirisaq Omar Mee’aad (known as Awliyo), and cameraman Ahmed Dayib. | PHOTO/Courtesy/SJS.
(From left to the right): Horn Cable TV reporter Ahmed Sheikh Muse Hassan (known as Buudhi), CBA TV reporter Abdirisaq Omar Mee’aad (known as Awliyo), and cameraman Ahmed Dayib. | PHOTO/Courtesy/SJS.

On 3 September, Hargeisa-based journalist Ahmed Mohamud Dool was released after spending 30 days in jail under the custody of Somaliland’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He had been arrested on 5 August after posting on his Facebook page an article allegedly written by a former government attorney, which accused members of the police of involvement in two recent murder cases in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland.

A post on the journalist’s own Facebook page the same day indicated that his arrest was linked to reporting on a murder case in Hargeisa. Speaking to SJS, Ahmed Dool said he was unitially summoned to report to the police criminal investigation in Hargeisa and was arrested upon arrival. The case was heard by the Maroodi-Jeh Regional Court in Hargeisa, where the government attorney accused him of “spreading false information.” After one month in detention, his defense lawyers successfully requested that the case be transferred to the Hargeisa District Court on 3 September. That court imposed a fine of 1,500,000 Somaliland Shillings (approximately $150). Ahmed Dool paid the fine and was released the same day.

journalist Ahmed Mohamud Dool. | PHOTO/Courtesy/SJS.
journalist Ahmed Mohamud Dool. | PHOTO/Courtesy/SJS.

He told SJS that he paid the fine not because he admitted any wrongdoing, but because he believed he would not receive justice otherwise, noting that the regional court had deliberately delayed hearings for a month under the influence of senior government officials. Photos of Ahmed Dool in chains were seen online during his repeated court appearances, raising concerns about the treatment of critical journalists in Somaliland.

Somaliland’s independent media is facing unprecedented pressure, despite earlier hopes for greater freedom following President Abdirahman Irro’s election victory in November last year. To date, SJS has documented the arrest of 24 journalists over the past nine months, while two media outlets have been banned.

“The repeated arrests of journalists in Somaliland over the past three weeks highlight a dangerous pattern of intimidation and censorship.  We are indeed concerned that press freedom is under serious threat, and these actions not only silence independent voices but also undermine the public’s right to information,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“We call on Somaliland authorities to immediately release all detained journalists, particularly Abdiaziz Saleban Sulub, also known as Abdiaziz Awl, respect their constitutional rights, and ensure a safe environment for the media to operate freely,” Mr. Mumin adds.

Sidee lagu mideyn karaa codka bulshada rayidka Soomaaliyeed?

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Journalists’ safety gravely undermined during opposition coverage in Mogadishu

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Journalists seen conducting interviews outside Warta Nabadda police station, Thursday 25 September, 2025. | PHOTO/Courtesy.
Journalists seen conducting interviews outside Warta Nabadda police station, Thursday 25 September, 2025. | PHOTO/Courtesy.

MOGADISHU, Somalia 26 September 2025 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) expresses deep concern over the endangerment of journalists’ lives while covering opposition activities in Mogadishu on Wednesday, 24 September, and Thursday, 25 September, during an event involving the Speaker of Parliament.

We strongly condemn the reported threats against journalists who expressed interest in covering the planned opposition-led demonstration scheduled for Saturday.

On Wednesday, 24 September, a dozen journalists faced serious risks to their safety when they accompanied leaders of the opposition, the Somali Salvation Forum, to the Warta Nabadda police station in Mogadishu. The opposition members and accompanying media crews came under gunfire that left at least two people dead and seven others injured, according to media reports. While no journalists were killed, a female journalist, Shukri Aabi Abdi, told SJS that she sustained minor facial bruises as she crawled to safety while seeking shelter.

At least five local media outlets reported losing journalistic equipment as their reporters fled during the attack.

On Thursday, 25 September, the Speaker of the Lower House of the Somali Federal Parliament, Aden Mohamed Nur (Sheikh Aden Madobe), blocked a dozen local journalists who were waiting for his press briefing during his visit to the Warta Nabadda police station. The journalists were kept outside, prevented from reporting, and were warned by armed soldiers not to point their cameras toward the station. Another female reporter from a local TV station told SJS that journalists were held there for more than two hours.

Meanwhile, on Friday, SJS received reports from at least five journalists who said they were prepared to cover the opposition-announced demonstration in Mogadishu on Saturday. The demonstration was called by the Somali Salvation Forum in response to Wednesday’s attack and to protest the ongoing forced evictions affecting Mogadishu residents.

Journalists seen conducting interviews outside Warta Nabadda police station, Thursday 25 September, 2025. | PHOTO/Courtesy.
Journalists seen conducting interviews outside Warta Nabadda police station, Thursday 25 September, 2025. | PHOTO/Courtesy.

Somali government officials, including Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi and Mogadishu Mayor Hassan Mohamed Hussein, publicly denounced the planned protest and warned the public against participation.  However, opposition leaders have insisted that the demonstration — which they described as “peaceful” — will go ahead as planned.

“We condemn the violent attack in Mogadishu on Wednesday, which resulted in loss of lives and endangered the safety of journalists as well as many civilians. The repeated targeting, intimidation, and blocking of journalists in Mogadishu is unacceptable and poses a grave threat to press freedom,” said Abdalle Mumin, Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS). “Journalists must be able to report freely and safely, especially on matters of public interest such as opposition activities and demonstrations. We call on the Somali authorities to immediately end these acts of repression and to guarantee the safety and protection of all media workers.”

SJS statement on the Somali Government’s move to terminate the mandate of the Independent Expert and the formation of a government-controlled National Human Rights Commission

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SJS Press Release logo
SJS Press Release logo.

MOGADISHU, Somalia 23 September 2025 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) expresses its strongest concern over the Somali government’s deliberate attempt to dismantle existing human rights protection mechanisms by seeking to terminate the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, while simultaneously rushing to establish a government-controlled National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). This represents a calculated move to crush human rights protections, shield violators from accountability, and silence independent oversight.

The Somali federal government has reportedly informed the Human Rights Council in Geneva of its intention to end the mandate of the Independent Expert, effective October 2025. This mandate, established in 1993 and most recently extended under Human Rights Council Resolution 57/27 (October 2024), enables impartial monitoring, assessment, and reporting on Somalia’s human rights situation. The current mandate-holder, Ms. Isha Dyfan, appointed in 2020, works in her individual capacity, gathering information, conducting visits, and making recommendations to advance human rights in Somalia.

This reckless decision comes amid one of the darkest human rights periods in Somalia’s recent history:

  • Forced evictions of thousands of vulnerable families in Mogadishu, leaving internally displaced persons (IDPs) and minorities at severe risk.
  • Escalating attacks on journalists and media freedom, leading to widespread self-censorship in Mogadishu and forcing some journalists into exile.
  • Persistent sexual violence and murder against women and girls, while the government continues to oppose the Sexual Offenses Bill.
  • Extrajudicial killings and abductions of civilians in South and Central Somalia, particularly in Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle, and Hiiraan, carried out by militias operating with impunity.
  • Entrenched corruption, extortion, and human trafficking, with credible reports of cash smuggling through Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle International Airport by networks linked to senior officials.

Instead of addressing these grave abuses, the government has pushed forward with the creation of a puppet National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Announced in July 2025 by the Ministry of Women and Human Rights, the nine-member body is dominated by government employees, former ministers, and close associates of the President, Prime Minister, and Speakers of Parliament. This process not only bypassed constitutional requirements but also excluded Somalia’s most marginalized and oppressed communities, further undermining the its legitimacy.

The so-called NHRC blatantly violates Article 41 of the Provisional Constitution, which requires “Parliament to establish an independent, adequately resourced commission”, and Law No. 18 of 2016, which emphasizes autonomy, transparency, and independence. It also contravenes the Paris Principles and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights standards, which mandate that national human rights institutions be pluralistic, credible, and free from state control.

SJS is deeply alarmed that the commission’s composition reflects Somalia’s discredited 4.5 clan power-sharing formula, deliberately excluding minorities and civil society voices. Even worse, some appointees are directly tied to human rights violators, including the recent reappointment of Mahad Mohamed Salad, a figure with a notorious record of abuses, as Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).

This demonstrates beyond doubt that the process was politically manipulated, non-transparent, and designed to whitewash violations rather than protect victims. If left unchallenged, this will entrench impunity and dismantle Somalia’s already fragile human rights protections.

SJS Calls and Recommendations:

The Somali federal government must immediately halt the current NHRC process, and restart it in full compliance with Article 41 of the Constitution and international human rights standards.

Parliament must ensure a transparent, merit-based, and participatory process, with open calls for applications, public vetting, and genuine involvement of civil society, minorities, and independent experts.

Individuals implicated in past human rights violations must be barred from serving in or influencing the commission.

The Somali civil society must take an active role in monitoring the process, demanding inclusivity and independence.

International partners and human rights organizations must closely monitor developments and withhold recognition or support for any government-controlled body that fails to meet international standards.

Somalia deserves a truly independent and credible national human rights commission that protects victims, holds perpetrators accountable, and strengthens the rule of law. Instead, the current process seeks to legitimize repression and enable impunity.

SJS further strongly warns that dismantling international and constitutional safeguards in this manner will have devastating consequences for Somalia’s human rights future.

Mogadishu journalist Anisa Ahmed harassed, threatened and forced to apologize to NISA

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PHOTO: Anisa Ahmed who reports for the online channel, Dalbile TV. | Courtesy/SJS.
PHOTO: Anisa Ahmed who reports for the online channel, Dalbile TV. | Courtesy/SJS.

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 20 September 2025 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) condemns the threats of disappearance and harm made against woman journalist, Anisa Ahmed, in Mogadishu by the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).

On 14 September, while carrying out her reporting assignment, Dalbile TV journalist Anisa Ahmed was stopped by Abdirahman Ali Mohamud, the NISA commander in charge of Dayniile district, Mogadishu. Anisa and her cameraman were reporting from Dayniile’s Oodweyne neighborhood, where armed police were deployed to forcibly evict families occupying former government land. During the eviction, gunfire erupted, killing at least one civilian and injuring four others, according to media reports.

According to an audio recording obtained by SJS in the aftermath of the incident, the NISA commander can be heard questioning Anisa on why she returned to report from the area, referring to her previous arrest in the same district late last month. While her cameraman managed to leave the area safely, Anisa told SJS that she was harassed and “threatened with disappearance” by Abdirahman Ali Mohamud. She later left the scene.

On the same day, Anisa posted the audio recording of her interaction with Abdirahman Ali Mohamud on her Facebook page. That evening, she received a call from MohamedKafi Sheikh Abukar, a NISA agent in charge of media monitoring who is also attached to state media in Mogadishu. MohamedKafi had previously been suspended from NISA a year ago following investigations into allegations of extortion, kidnapping and sexual violence against female detainees in NISA custody. However, he was reinstated in June this year after his relative Mahad Salad returned to NISA’s leadership.

According to a second audio recording obtained by SJS, MohamedKafi Sheikh Abukar can be heard instructing Anisa to join a WhatsApp conference call where the NISA commander for Banadir region, Moalim Salah—a former Al-Shabaab defector—joined the conversation and was introduced to her. During the call, MohamedKafi Sheikh Abukar pressured Anisa to delete her Facebook post from that day, promising in return to grant her and her relatives “access to the roads in Mogadishu.” He also questioned whether Anisa had previously attended Ministry of Information seminars and asked about her place of residence.

Due to security restrictions, many of Mogadishu’s main roads remain blocked to the public, and access to key infrastructure such as the airport and government buildings often requires either personal connections or government-issued IDs. As a result, many local journalists, and non-government personnel fall into the trap of being given IDs from security agencies, including NISA, to gain access to these roads.

MohamedKafi Sheikh Abukar further asked Anisa to come to a police station “to resolve the matter,” which she refused. During the WhatsApp call, Anisa also declined to delete her Facebook post. However, on 16 September, Anisa reported that MohamedKafi Sheikh Abukar continued to pressure her, threatening arrest if she did not remove the post. She also reported that he instructed her to ask SJS to delete the audio recording it had published. Under pressure, Anisa eventually deleted both the audio recording and her Facebook post.

On 17 September, Anisa was forced to publish an apology on her Facebook page.
On 17 September, Anisa was forced to publish an apology on her Facebook page. | PHOTO/Screenshot/ Anisa.

That was still not enough. On 17 September, Anisa was forced to publish an apology statement on her Facebook page, where she stated: “I, Anisa Ahmed, a journalist working in Mogadishu, would like to express here my appreciation and respect for the security agencies and government officials.”

“The threats, harassment, and forced apology against our colleague Anisa Ahmed represent a grave attack on press freedom and the safety of journalists in Somalia,” said Abdalle Mumin, Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) “Anisa Ahmed is a double victim in this case: first, subjected to harassment and threats of disappearance while performing her journalistic duties, and second, forced to publicly apologize under pressure from NISA officials.”

“It is unacceptable that NISA officials, including those previously implicated in abuses against journalists, continue to intimidate reporters with impunity. We demand an immediate end to these threats, accountability for those responsible, and protection for Anisa and all journalists who courageously serve the public,” Mr. Mumin adds.

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