Tragically, two journalists were killed in Mogadishu. Local independent journalist Mohamed Abukar Dabaashe died in an Al-Shabaab terrorist bombing targeting a residential area in March, while Abdifatah Abdi Osman, known as Arab, a television technician, was shot dead by a lone gunman in May while on his way to work.

During the year, 22 journalists sustained beatings and physical assaults by state security forces while on duty. Fourteen of the victims were reporters attacked in Mogadishu, including two women. In Somaliland, security forces attacked five journalists, including one who was shot with live ammunition and subsequently beaten.

Throughout 2025, 148 journalists were arrested or arbitrarily detained. In Somaliland, 36 journalists were detained or arrested in regions such as Erigabo, Sanaag, and Awdal, which experienced heightened inter-clan conflicts. Mogadishu led with 118 cases of media violations including arbitrary detentions, primarily carried out by NISA and the police. Five of these incidents were kidnappings.

Nearly 90 percent of journalists arrested or arbitrarily detained were not brought to court and were released without charge, often after one or several days in detention. Over 10% of the media violations recorded in 2025 affected women journalists.

Nine cases of media violations were recorded in each of Southwest and Galmudug, while Puntland commited seven violations; Northeastern (formerly SSC-Khaatumo) detained three reporters; Hirshabelle arrested two and Jubaland detained one journalist. The past year also showed a pattern of repression through prosecution and legal harassment. SJS documented nine incidents of legal harassment and Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP) lawsuit aimed at silencing journalists – including SJS itself  – and intimidating them from performing their work. One of these legal harassment cases specifically targeted a woman journalist in Puntland State.

In 2025, a total of nine media stations were banned or denied access, including five in Southwest State of Somalia. Two of the affected outlets in Mogadishu were targeted by Somali security forces. In Somaliland, a local television station was closed over its reporting of the tension between Somalia and Somaliland, and the Hadwanaag news website was suspended again after an earlier lift of a long-standing ban.

Women journalists in Somalia are frequently targeted with online harassment, intimidation, and disinformation campaigns. Throughout the year, SJS documented repeated incidents of both online and offline attacks against women in media. Women journalists in Mogadishu were particularly vulnerable, as the political environment worsened amid heated debates surrounding the 2026 elections. At the same time, forced evictions of vulnerable families increased, causing large-scale displacement in the city. Several women journalists covering these developments were arrested, leading many to avoid posting opinions on social media or engaging in reporting assignments that might provoke retaliation from local authorities.

In Puntland, a woman journalist faced legal threats after conducting street interviews that reportedly angered local authorities in Garowe. Such incidents have contributed to growing fear and self-censorship among women in the media.

Somali women journalists and media producers also report a rise in AI-facilitated abuse, including voice cloning, manipulated images, and fake online content used to shame or discredit women journalists. These digital attacks are becoming increasingly common tools to silence female voices in the media.

Women journalists also face structural barriers to leadership and decision-making positions within Somali media organizations. Women currently make up only about 20 percent of professional journalists in Somalia, and many receive lower pay than male colleagues performing similar work. Key challenges include exclusion from editorial decision-making roles, male-dominated newsroom management, gender pay gaps, and sexual harassment linked to job security or career advancement. These conditions create hostile workplace environments and prevent many women journalists from advancing to leadership positions within media institutions.

To address these challenges, SJS has been actively working to empower women journalists through training, advocacy, and protection initiatives, aiming to create a safer, more inclusive, and equitable media environment in Somalia.

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On Thursday, 18 December 2025, an audio clip falsely purporting to be the voice of Somali Senator Abdirahman Mohamed Faroole, a former President of Puntland and currently part of the opposition coalition attending Kismayo conference, began circulating widely on Facebook, a Meta-owned platform that is popular in Somalia.

The AI-generared audio claimed that Senator Faroole, lasting one minute and four seconds, calls for “violence to happen in Mogadishu”. It explicitly invokes clan hostilities with a mention of regions such as Gedo, Hargeisa [Somaliland] and Laascaanood.  Senator Faroole made no such remarks.

After cross-checking with AI voice detection tools, the audio was confirmed to be a deepfake generated using AI voice-creation technology, manipulated from phrases taken from a real speech delivered at the Kismayo political opposition conference, which began on 18 December.

“It is a common reality that words, phrases, or partial sentences taken from a person’s speech can be trained with AI tools to create fake audio that is sometimes difficult for a general audience to detect. In this case, this is exactly how AI deepfake creators manipulated Senator Faroole’s speech,” said SJS Secretary of Information and Human Rights, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul.

Following alerts from local journalists and digital content creators, SJS investigated the matter amid growing fears that the disinformation could damage journalists’ credibility, distort public understanding of political developments, and potentially lead to intercommunal conflict.  SJS’s review found that more than 86 Facebook pages and profiles had shared the same fake audio.

How Fast the AI-Generated Audio Spread

A keyword-based search conducted by SJS, within less than 24 hours after the fake audio emerged, showed that the content was viewed over 1.1 million times, shared more than 12,000 times, and received over 3,700 comments on Facebook alone, demonstrating how rapidly such harmful content can spread.

As of Saturday, 20 December, the reach had increased to approximately 2 million views on Facebook alone.

Alarmingly, some of the accounts amplifying the deepfake content are verified with Facebook’s blue badge and those affiliated to state media in Mogadishu which have substantial followings.

As a result, on Friday, 19 December, several Somali Federal Government officials, including the Minister of Defence, and a government-backed elder repeated the false claims from the AI-generated audio during election campaign speeches in Mogadishu, further amplifying the misinformation through local media.

This is not an isolated case. SJS has observed a troubling rise in the irresponsible use of AI, including the manipulation of women’s images to falsely depict nudity, and the creation of fake voices to attribute statements to individuals that were never made.

Facebook, owned by Meta, is highly popular in Somalia, and many people, including journalists, rely on it for news and information. According to Meta’s advertising resources, Facebook had approximately 2.6 million users in Somalia in early 2025.

Journalists, public figures, and especially women have been increasingly targeted, with serious personal and professional consequences. Some pages even impersonate known journalists, politicians, and celebrities, further eroding trust in credible information and posing a serious threat to media freedom and public safety in Somalia.

“Deepfake content, especially when spread on social media, can directly endanger communities by spreading false claims that may incite violence or unrest and can endanger journalists’ safety. It can weaken the integrity of media institutions,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin “What we are seeing is that untrained journalists cannot stop false narratives created with AI, leaving the public unable to distinguish facts from lies.”

“In this context, SJS suggests that media professionals must be trained to identify and respond to deepfake content, and communities must be educated on the risks posed by AI-generated misinformation and disinformation,” Mr. Mumin adds.

SJS calls on Meta to take immediate measures to identify, remove, and limit the spread of AI-generated misinformation and disinformation in Somalia, and to work with Somali journalists and media organizations to develop safeguards to protect the integrity of the Somali media.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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On 18 March 2025, journalist Mohamed Abukar Dabaashe was killed in an Al-Shabaab bombing targeting the Somali president’s convoy near the presidential palace—one of the supposedly safest zones in Mogadishu. Impunity continues as the Somali government fails to investigate such attacks and bring those responsible to justice, including for the killings of civilians and journalists.

Between 1 January to 30 April, In total, 46 journalists were arrested or detained during this period, and two journalists were kidnapped and disappeared in Lower Shabelle, Southwest State. Southwest State also imposed restrictions on three local radio stations during Ramadan, while Somaliland closed Universal TV, and Mogadishu police raided Radio Risaala. More than 30 journalists had their equipment confiscated, and 10 others faced physical violence and intimidation.

Female journalists represented 10.5% of those affected, while 89.5% were male.

Both government forces and Al-Shabaab contributed to an increasingly hostile environment for media workers, with offline attacks, including arbitrary arrests and killings, complemented by online censorship.

Somalia’s State Security Forces and Police, many of whom are former Al-Shabaab defectors, were behind most raids, arrests, and intimidations of journalists. The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) continued unlawful detentions and harassment, particularly in Mogadishu. A surge in arrests—41 in Mogadishu alone—signals a growing threat to media freedom in the capital.

Government officials, including those from the Ministry of Information and Ministry of Internal Security, openly targeted journalists critical of the government or reporting on Al-Shabaab attacks or military withdrawals. This crackdown prompted many journalists to self-censor or flee the country.

Facebook has become a key platform for journalists in Somalia, yet Meta increasingly
removed content or restricted pages, often in response to reports critical of the government or sensitive security issues. At least seven journalists and media outlets were affected by these actions during the period of this report.

Female journalists faced both physical at- tacks and online censorship, with six
incidents specifically targeted with women reporters.

The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) urges immediate action at both national and
international levels to protect journalists, hold perpetrators accountable, and safeguard media freedom against the ongoing repression.

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In the course of 2023, the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) conducted extensive documentation efforts across the country, revealing numerous instances of threats, attacks, and persecution targeting media workers. One such incident involved an armed attack on Radio Barawe, the only minority community-owned independent radio station in the Southwest State of Somalia, resulting in the closure of the radio and its journalists fleeing into exile.

Additionally, SJS documented the arbitrary detention of 25 journalists, many of whom faced persecution and judicial harassment simply for carrying out their professional duties or advocating for media freedom. Notably, seven of these detentions, including one involving female journalist Busharo Ali Mohamed, were carried out by Somaliland authorities, while 18 cases were attributed to various Somali police units, the national intelligence agency, and affiliated regional forces such as those in Galmudug and Jubbaland. At least one media worker sustained injury in Mogadishu due to a knife attack.

Further exacerbating the challenges faced by journalists in Somalia, two television networks were instructed by local authorities to halt broadcasting or remove content deemed critical, while prominent journalists reported instances of forced removal of online content. This included reports exposing instances of torture perpetrated by Somali police in Mogadishu against a person with physical disabilities. Moreover, the Somali Ministry of Information boasted of its partnership with Facebook to censor online reporting critical of security forces combating Al-Shabaab, while Al-Shabaab itself threatened journalists collaborating with the state. Throughout the year, SJS documented numerous other cases involving online threats and physical violence against journalists.

Somali media organizations, including the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), encountered a substantial online assault, signaling a concerning uptick in endeavors to sabotage their vital works. Employing a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) tactic, the cyberattack besieged the SJS website, inundating it with traffic and rendering it inaccessible. Concurrently, at least three other local media entities also found themselves under siege by analogous attacks, underscoring the pervasive nature of the threat faced by journalistic
platforms in the digital sphere.

Of particular concern is the increasing use of Facebook’s Community Standards and mass reporting to censor Somali journalists critical of the government, resulting in content take-downs, restrictions on freedom of expression, and the deletion of social media accounts. Journalists and media outlets critical of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government and the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) faced widespread censorship on Facebook, with warnings of page restrictions, suspensions, or content removal often issued under the guise of combating “dangerous organizations and individuals” or “violating community standards.”

Throughout 2023, journalists in Somalia and Somaliland faced significant challenges in reporting on corruption allegations, human rights violations perpetrated by state security forces, and insecurity and deadly attacks carried out by Al-Shabaab. Despite constitutional commitments to uphold press freedom, impunity for crimes against journalists remains a pressing concern, with no progress made towards investigating and holding perpetrators accountable.

In light of these ongoing challenges, the Somali Attorney General must prioritize the safety and security of journalists and address the issue of impunity, especially through the Special Prosecution Unit established in 2020 to investigate crimes against journalists, including cases involving high-profile government officials. Furthermore, the persistent use of penal codes in both Somalia and Somaliland continues to pose a threat to freedom of expression, underscoring the urgent need for legal reform.

In response to these challenges, SJS and its international partners took significant actions in 2023, lodging two major complaints with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions (UNWGAD) and the Human Rights Committee. These complaints addressed the arbitrary arrest and detention of Mohamed Bulbul, Information and Human Rights Secretary of SJS, and the persecution of Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the Secretary-General of SJS. SJS remains committed to pursuing justice and accountability for these violations of press freedom.

Leveraging its international affiliations, SJS continued its advocacy efforts by collaborating with various civil society organizations to champion causes such as media freedom, human rights protection, secure online access, and safety measures for human rights defenders, including journalists, not only in Africa but also across other regions globally.

In July 2023, SJS achieved a significant milestone by joining the prestigious International Press Institute (IPI), a global network comprising editors, media executives, and distinguished journalists. This membership further strengthens SJS’s commitment to defending press freedom, safety of journalists, and upholding freedom of expression, both within Somalia and on the international stage.

Throughout the year, SJS played a crucial role in supporting journalists amidst legal obstacles, providing a multifaceted approach to address the complexities of legal proceedings and threats to freedom of expression. This included offering legal defense support, mentorship, and advice to 47 journalists, with a significant representation of women. Additionally, SJS conducted training programs for 84 journalists, focusing on empowering female reporters and addressing human rights and women’s rights issues in Somalia. With support from organizations such as the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), and Medico International, approximately 40% of the participants were women. SJS plans to continue similar training initiatives in 2024 to further enhance the capabilities of local journalists across vital areas of reporting.

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Mohamed Ibrahim Isak
President, Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS)

Celebrated every year on 3rd May, this year’s theme for the Day is “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights”, signifying the enabling element of freedom of expression to enjoy and protect all other human rights.   

Unfortunately, Much worse than the previous years, judicial harassment on journalists and union leaders, threats through orders and directives that curtail press freedom and impose the journalists and the media houses to remain under self-censorship fearing government reprisals has become the norm and in this way, many stories with public interest went unreported.

The growing pressure against Somali journalists and lack of access to information call for concern. When journalists are blocked, threatened and their access to information denied, it will entrench a culture of impunity. Providing and presenting information to the general public, particularly on human rights violations promotes redress for the victims or to seek justice regarding perpetrators through legal action.

Lack of accountability for attacks against journalists is a serious and pervasive problem that threatens the protection of journalists and media workers in Somalia. 21 journalists have been attacked, arbitrarily detained or threatened for carrying out their duties including union officials from 1 January 2023 to 3 May, 2023. And yet the perpetrators are never held accountable.

On 1 May 2023, Three journalists working for the Shabelle Media Network and Universal TV were beaten and obstructed from exercising their journalistic duties after trying to cover a waste water from last week’s rain which harbour at a contaminated garbage site Fagah neighborhood in Mogadishu. Due to lack of proper drainage system, a heavy rainfall in Mogadishu resulted flooding and garbage seen in Mogadishu neighborhoods. The journalists accused director of the Sanitation department of the Banadir region Mohamed Suudi who ordered his guards to beat and obstruct the journalists from reporting. Among the journalists are Zakariye Ahmed Muse and Mahad Hasan Abdi Tawakal a reporter and a cameraman for the Shabelle Media Network and  Abdirisak Mohamed Qoslaye, a cameraman from Universal TV. According to the Shabelle Media Network, the same official threatened their cameraman Abdifatah Rooble the previous day.

On 23 April 2023, Somaliland police in Erigabo, Sanaag region, detained Bulsho TV reporter Abdilatiif Said Asayr following his report on a statement by the Erigabo mayor, Ahmed Isdebar, who instructed local police to deal with and stop “intermingling of men and women in the tourist locations”. The journalist was freed on 24 April from the police custody without charge.

On 23 April 2023, Somaliland news site reported that a court order issued by the Marodi-Jeh District Court instructed local telecom companies to block access to the social media accounts such as Facebook, Youtube and Twitter belonging to several individuals including journalists and other critics. All of them have been publishing news and commentary articles about the Laascaanood conflict. The court order was issued in January 2023 but has not been implemented yet.

On 27 April 2023, Somaliland ministry of information said it has lifted the suspension of the BBC Somali Service broadcast, which the ministry imposed on 19 July, 2022.  According to the Somaliland Minister of Information, Suleyman Yusuf Ali (Koore), the lifting of the suspension follows a series of meetings between Somaliland ministry of information and the BBC Somali Service representatives.

“Government officials should refrain from interfering, threatening and obstructing journalists’ work while on duty. We condemn any actions to threaten, harass and attack journalists in the strongest terms possible and we demand that those who involved in this latest attack to be held accountable for attacking journalists,” Mohamed Ibrahim, SJS President said, “Journalists work should be respected and regarded as positive contribution by shedding light on critical but important stories that the public has the right to know.”

“These attacks and vague directives from the Ministry of information led many journalists to flee the country and media houses to self-censor for fear of their safety, leading many important stories unreported,” Mr. Ibrahim added.

Ahead of WPFD2023, SJS interviewed nine online journalists and five local media stations who all described how their news content was censored, restricted, removed or made less visible through mass reporting by anonymous Facebook users. Some of the journalists and media stations we interviewed have reported that their pages were banned from posting, made to respond to fake copyright claims or their pages deleted for good as attackers exploit Facebook’s Community Standards in a devious tactic to suppress independent journalism.

Among the content targeted is articles, video interviews, news pieces and pictures critical to the Somali Federal Government, the Ministry of Information, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and the police. Journalists have also reported that mass reporting has led to the removal of news report that alleged the police commanders of wrongdoings including sexual violence against women and other abuses.

The diaspora-based Somali journalist Mohamud Mohamed Dahir (Mohamud Arab) was forced to remove his video interview on 10 April 2023 which became viral and exposed human rights violations in the Mogadishu detention centres run by NISA. According to Mohamud Arab and a review of Facebook After the journalist appealed against the decision, the interview was re-posted but with restrictions describing it as “dangerous content or dangerous individual.” The restriction has since been revoked due to a second appeal by the journalist.

“They [attackers] mass report almost every report I post on my Facebook page. This has led Facebook to take down some of my content and my account was flagged. When I appeal, Facebook does not respond quickly and it has made me to worry about what I can publish online,” Mohamud told SJS.

Mohamud and three other journalists were detained by the national intelligence in August 2014 for their critical reporting on authorities. They were freed on early 2015 and has decided to flee the country into exile.

Similarly, diaspora-based journalist Zakariye Timacadde has been repeatedly under attack since end of 2022 following his reporting on allegations of corruption, insecurity, sexual violence and power abuse by the Somali police and other powerful individuals at the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). In mid April 2023, he received a message from Facebook notifying him that his “account is restricted at the moment”.

“When I fled the country due to my security, I decided to continue reporting what is happening in the country remotely. But now, like many other journalists, they started to attack me online,” Zakariye Timacadde told SJS.

Zakariye fled into exile in June 2019 after he faced threats for his reports on sensitive security issues by the national intelligence and al-Shabaab.

Another diaspora-based journalist Munasar Mohamed. On 27 April, he covered a leaked video exposing officials selling stolen food aid at a local market. His Facebook was then put on restriction to which he appealed to Facebook. Days earlier, he published a commentary video and on the same day Facebook removed the video as he received a notification from Facebook which states “this post may go against our guidelines on suggested content”.

“It is endless. Every single day, I receive messages from Facebook indicating that my content goes against Facebook’s community standards even if I interview someone or post an article. This is a justification used to silence journalists like me,” Munasar told SJS.

On 5 October 2022, Nairobi-based journalist Bile Bashir Mehbub received a message from Facebook notifying him that his Facebook page “was not visible to people on Facebook” and that he could not use it. That was few days after posting a video interview with another journalist analyzing a bombing attack that killed former Banadir police commissioner, Farhan Qarole during an al-Shabaab attack on 30 September 2022. “I contacted Facebook but I have not received any explanation,” he told SJS. A month later Bile had created a new account under his name only to be suspended on 18 November 2022. A message from Facebook then said “We’ve suspended your account. It does not follow our Community Standards on account integrity and authentic identity.”

SJS Secretary of Information and Human Rights, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul, who also reports online was not spared. “I stopped covering issues related to al-Shabaab because of the fear that I will be targeted physically and online. Since October 2022, local journalists who report al-Shabaab related incidents are their online platforms such as their Facebook pages taken down or even hacked,” Bulbul said.

That is not the end, posting articles and videos that expose abuses committed by NISA including attacks against journalists can bear a high risk for journalists themselves and their online platforms. “Anything to do with insecurity, or attacks against journalists or even to call for accountability for crimes against journalists or other human rights violations will put your online platforms at risk,” he said.

Three other journalists Abdirahman Nuur Abukar, Mohamed Bashir and Khalid Foodhaadhi, and representatives from Risaala TV, and its sister radio Radio Risaala as well as Kaab Somali TV have told SJS that their content were similarly targeted leading to avoid criticism of the authorities.

On 23 April 2023, Somaliland news site reported that a court order issued by the Marodi-Jeh District Court instructed local telecom companies to block access to the social media accounts such as Facebook, Youtube and Twitter belonging to several individuals including journalists and other critics. All of them have been publishing news and commentary articles about the Laascaanood conflict. The court order was issued in January 2023 but has not been implemented yet.

“The use of mass reporting has caused journalists to worry about the type of content they can report because they feel it is not safe for them. We strongly condemn these type of suppression and censorship of journalists as the Somali authorities continuously abuse the reporting system of Facebook by giving false information because they know that Facebook’s computerized moderation and its algorithms will have difficulty in comprehending the Somali language which the content is reported,” SJS Secretary-General, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin said “This form of censorship is now having a huge impact on journalists and local media houses because it not only induces fear, it silences journalists and discredit them professionally.”

For majority of the content put on restrictions or removed, SJS has found that Facebook constantly categorized it as ‘Dangerous organisations and individuals’ which is part of Facebook’s six section Community Standards policy. A review done by Article19 in 2018 found that these Community Standards are not in line with international human rights law while Facebook has failed to to provide more information about the way in which those standards are applied in practice.

“Facebook and other social media companies should be more transparent and explain how they comply with various governments including the Somali authorities when it comes to censoring or banning content produced by journalists,” Mr. Mumin said. “We also urge Facebook to review its broad definitions of ‘terrorism’, ‘hate speech and incitement to violence’, or ‘content that is not allowed’. Facebook and other platforms should align their definition of ‘terrorism’ with that recommended by the UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism. In particular, Facebook should avoid the use of vague terms such as ‘praise,’ ‘express support,’ ‘glorification’ or ‘promotion’.”

Much worse than the previous years, judicial harassment on journalists and union leaders, threats through orders and directives that curtail press freedom and impose the journalists and the media houses to remain under self-censorship fearing government reprisals has become the norm in 2022 and in this way, many stories with public interest went unreported.

The new directive imposed on the media on October 8, 2022 by the Somali ministry of information contains a blanket restriction on media freedom and journalists’ right to access information. Journalists and media houses are concerned that the vague wording in the law would limit their ability to report freely on ongoing operations against any armed groups and restrict their media freedoms.

The raid on SJS office on October 10, the detention of SJS secretary-general Abdalle Ahmed Mumin on October 11 and the persecution against him are yet another chilling message to all the media fraternity in the country. The raid on SJS office was carried by masked men armed with AK47 rifles led by the commander of the Somali Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA)’s Howlwadag district Mr. Shakib shortly after SJS among four press freedom organization held a joint press conference raising concerns on the ministry of information’s restrictive directive.

Following the October 8 directive, Jubbaland intelligence officers arbitrarily detained Horn Cable TV journalist and SJS press freedom coordinator, Abdullahi Hussein Kilas, in the port city of Kismayo on October 23, after covering an attack on a hotel in the centre of Kismayo that day. Kilas was freed later in the day after authorities forced Horn Cable TV to remove the his news report. Consequently, authorities in Hirshabelle raided Hiiraanweyn radio in Beledweyne and detained four reporters on December 22, for reporting the withdrawal of Ma’awisley militia from villages in Hiiraan region over lack of payment. Galmudug police in Adado also detained two local journalists after interviewing clan elders who allegedly met with al-Shabaab members on December 25. Local journalists were also informed to refrain from reporting security related incidents including al-Shabaab attacks.

According to SJS documentation, arbitrary detention, use of threats, restrictions and blocking access to information has reached to another worrisome level throughout 2022 and on the other hand federal and local authorities have doubled their attacks on journalists covering the government-declared war between government forces and al-Shabaab in certain regions of the country. Subsequently, two prominent journalists were killed while ten others were injured in 2022, 84 journalists were arrested, seven media stations/offices were raided and shuttered due to their critical reporting.

SJS has documented a sharp rise of the number of journalists leaving the country as a result of threats related to their reporting. Over 10 journalists (three of them female reporters) have fled the country to different countries including Turkey and Kenya. These journalists said they decided to flee into exile as the pressure and threats from the authorities grew and crackdown on the free press has made the situation untenable.

Restrictions on access to information entrenched self-censorship among the media. Journalists in Mogadishu, Hirshabelle, Galmudug, South West and Jubbaland told SJS that they were blocked from major events and to the scenes of incidents, including sites of Al-Shabaab attacks and denied access to information on public interests. Journalists have particularly narrated acts of censorship and intimidation aimed at stopping them from uncovering serious human rights violations.

Police commanders, judges, government officials, clan leaders and members of al-Shabaab were described as the key perpetrators of these violations. Journalists in Puntland told SJS that they were denied access to cover news reports revealing police wrongdoings and sexual violence against women and girls. Authorities in Somaliland have used severe restrictions on access to information including internet outage, detention of journalists, suspension of media houses as well as threats intended to silence critical coverage by the local journalists.

Journalists, particularly those covering human rights, have described about economic hardships as a direct consequence of their work to document and investigate human rights violations. The hostile attitude towards journalists covering human rights abuses and the lack of awareness for the general public also remain as part of the challenge.

Universal access to information means that everyone has the right to seek, receive and impart information. The media plays a vital role, particularly when it aims to inform the public of critical information and monitors government actions. The right to universal access to information is also bound up with the right to freedom of the press. Unfortunately, the Federal Government of Somalia and its member states are yet to introduce the Access to Information Bill which is a constitutional requirement under Article 32 of the Provisional Federal Constitution.

The growing pressure against Somali journalists and lack of access to information call for concern. When journalists are blocked, threatened and their access to information denied, it will entrench a culture of impunity. Providing and presenting information to the general public, particularly on human rights violations promotes redress for the victims or to seek justice regarding perpetrators through legal action.

We are alarmed by the rise of the attacks against the journalists who are solely targeted for their reporting on the pretext of the Somali government’s military offensive against al-Shabaab. Sadly, these attacks on free press were motivated by the 8 October directive by the ministry of information restricting media coverage on the ongoing security operations.

While we condemn all kinds of attacks on the journalists in the strongest terms possible, we also reiterate our call for both the federal government and the federal member states to stop attacks against journalists and allow the independent media and their journalists to carry out their duties without threats and detention.

In addition, the Somali media law (amendment 2020) also includes provisions that threaten human rights, including freedom of expression, media freedom and could criminalize reporting and give the government overly broad powers and oversight over media organizations.

The provisions on criminal penalties are vaguely worded and could give law enforcement authorities wide scope for misinterpretation and abuse. These include the provision prohibiting reporting on issues conflicting with “national interest”, “false information”, “incitement to violence and clannism” and “dissemination of propaganda”.

Furthermore, the law imposes unspecified fines on journalists who contravene its provisions, and journalists could face prosecution for failure to pay the fines. It also includes a provision which risks undermining journalists’ rights to confidential sources and also contains administrative restrictions that give the Ministry of Information a broad mandate to regulate the media and media practitioners.

It’s unfortunate that journalists are now fearful in their country and are resorting to either self-censor or leave the country. We urge for the local and federal authorities to end the restriction to access to information by state and non-state actors in Somalia.

The federal government and the federal member states should create a safe environment where journalists can exercise their profession without fear or reprisals and allow review for the media law with the consultation of the media stakeholders, media associations and journalists groups.

The federal government and the regional states – including Somaliland – should stop using the penal code for journalists and promptly finalize a comprehensive review of this outdated code and all other laws that impede the right to freedom of expression and media freedom, in addition to other rights, and bring them in line with Somalia’s constitution and international human rights law and standards.

Mohamed Ibrahim Isak
President, Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS)

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MOGADISHU, Somalia 28 September 2022 – On the International Day for Universal Access to Information, Somali journalists have little to celebrate about. The often precarious and volatile environment is coupled with restrictions on access to information, duress and insecurity.

Journalists in Mogadishu, Hirshabelle, Galmudug, South West and Jubbaland told SJS that they were blocked from major events and to the scenes of incidents, including sites of Al-Shabaab attacks and denied access to information on public interests. Journalists have particularly narrated acts of censorship and intimidation aimed at stopping them from uncovering serious human rights violations. Police commanders, judges, government officials, clan leaders and members of al-Shabaab were described as the key perpetrators of these violations.  Journalists in Puntland told SJS that they were denied access to cover news reports revealing police wrongdoings and sexual violence against women and girls. 

“In our recent human rights journalism training supported by the National Endowment for Democracy, journalists shared their plight by narrating first hand experiences. Lack of access to information creates a chilling climate of self-censorship and co-optation by a majority of the media houses and journalists nationwide,” said SJS Secretary-General, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin.

Authorities in Somaliland have used severe restrictions on access to information including internet outage, detention of journalists, suspension of media houses as well as threats intended to silence critical coverage by the local journalists.

Journalists, particularly those covering human rights, have spoken about economic hardships as a direct consequence of their work to document and investigate human rights violations. The hostile attitude towards journalists covering human rights abuses and the lack of awareness for the general public also remain as part of the challenge.

Universal access to information means that everyone has the right to seek, receive and impart information. The media plays a vital role, particularly when it aims to inform the public of critical information and monitors government actions. The right to universal access to information is also bound up with the right to freedom of the press.  Unfortunately, the Federal Government of Somalia and its member states are yet to introduce the Access to Information Bill which is a constitutional requirement under Article 32 of the Provisional Federal Constitution.

“The growing pressure against Somali journalists and lack of access to information call for concern. When journalists are blocked, threatened and their access to information denied, it will entrench a culture of impunity. Providing and presenting information to the general public, particularly on human rights violations promotes redress for the victims or to seek justice regarding perpetrators through legal action,” Mumin said.  “We call for an end to the restriction to access to information by state and non-state actors in Somalia.”

On the occasion of the International Day for Universal Access to Information, SJS makes the following call to the Somali Federal Government, Federal Member States, international partners and the donor community:

Somali federal government and its FMS should:

• Allow journalists and media workers access to government information including by not putting restrictions on accessing government buildings and interviewing public officials;
• Provide safety and protect journalists who are investigating and uncovering serious human rights violations including those perpetrated by the government officials and security forces;
• Protect whistle blowers who contribute valuable information to the journalists for the sake of public interest;
• Not unjustifiably restrict and interfere with the rights of individuals to seek, receive and impart information;
• Accelerate and draft the Access to Information Bill through the parliament as required by the Constitution.

The international partners should:

• Support local civil society groups to carry out systematic monitoring and reporting on violations and abuses of the right to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom throughout the country;
• Urge the Federal Government of Somalia and the Federal Member States to respect, protect and promote the rights of journalists;
• Pressure the Somali Federal Government and FMS to accelerate the Access to Information Bill through the parliament and provide the necessary support.

The donor community should:

• Support public education campaigns on respect for human rights including the right to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom;
• Support actions that promote the safety of journalists in Somalia;
• Include the Somali development and peace-building funding support initiatives that promote human rights, media freedom and safety of the journalists;  
• Strengthen efforts made by the local civil society and journalists associations to promote media freedom and the right to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom.

The report launch was followed by two live panel discussion streamed on local television stations at the Jazeera Palace Hotel in Mogadishu and brought together leaders of independent media organisations, civil society representatives, media editors, religious scholars, women’s groups and government representatives.

The report, which has been compiled from incident monitoring data contributed by SMSJ members, provides an overview of the media freedom situation in Somalia in 2021 with a special focus on cases of violations against journalists and media workers.

In 2021, attacks against journalists spiked, with 105 incidents of media violations recorded by SMSJ, largely targeting on-duty journalists. The figure represents a 62 per cent increase from 2020 and the highest caseload recorded in a decade and includes: two cases of murder, 66 arrests, 14 media outlet raids, 14 physical assaults, 13 cases of harassment, and two sham trials.

The SMSJ Secretary-General, who is also the Secretary-General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, stated: “As we have witnessed again in 2021, brutal violence, arbitrary arrests, intimidation and harassment of journalists increased to alarming levels during elections, at a time when the Somali public needed most accurate and timely information. To combat and reduce violence against journalists, SMSJ and its members have taken proactive steps by documenting these media violations.”

SMSJ Chairperson, Farah Omar Nur, who is also the Secretary-General of the Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ), said the release of the report will be a good entry point to engage in dialogue with the relevant stakeholders to put an end to violations against media and journalists.

“We have government representatives with us today and we appeal to them to help us in getting accountability for the attacks against journalists. We also call for the Somali government can also help in the protection and the safety of Somali journalists,” SMSJ Chairperson, Farah added.

Chairman of the non-state actors (SONSA), Osman Tahlil, said the presentation of the annual SMSJ report demonstrates the solidarity of the media community and the efforts to promote media freedom which is crucial for state-building in Somalia. He commended the work of SMSJ and its struggle to protect the rights of journalists.

Abukar Albadri, Somalia Programme Coordinator for International Media Support (IMS) and FOJO Media Institute, who have supported SMSJ, said that IMS-Fojo will continue to support efforts to ensure a safer and more conducive environment for journalists and media in Somalia and to address impunity.

Speaking at the launch of the report, the Director General of the Federal Ministry of Information, Abdullahi Hayir Duale, praised the report launch saying that the repeated harassment and attacks of journalists was regrettable.

“It is my pleasure, as the representative of the ministry of information, to attend the presentation of the SMSJ annual report. We encourage you and welcome your report,” Hayir said.

Safety and protection of journalists are key priorities for the Somali Mechanism of the Safety of the Journalists (SMSJ) which is generously supported by International Media Support (IMS) and FOJO Media Institute.   SMSJ is grateful to IMS/FOJO: Media Institute for their tireless support as we also appreciate the role of Sweden, Denmark and the European Union for their solidarity and support for the Somali media.

Signed by SMSJ member organisations:

1. Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS)
2. Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ)
3. Media Association of Puntland (MAP)
4. Somali Women Journalists Organisation (SWJO)
5. Somali Media Association (SOMA)
6. Somali Independent Media Houses Association (SIMHA)
7. Media Women Network (MWN)

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