Somalia journalists arrested and beaten in Mogadishu amid press freedom crackdown

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somali authorities detained and allegedly assaulted three journalists in Mogadishu on Friday evening before releasing them hours later, media organisations and opposition figures said, in an incident that has intensified concerns over press freedom in Somalia ahead of expected political protests.

The journalists – Mohamed Bulbul, Abdihafid Nor Barre and Abdishakur Mohamed Mohamud – were arrested while they were at a restaurant in central Mogadishu, according to accounts from media groups and statements attributed to the reporters. They said members of Somalia’s US-trained counter-terrorism police unit detained them, assaulted them, and later transferred them for questioning at police headquarters.

All three journalists were released in the early hours of Saturday, but the arrests have triggered condemnation from Somali media organisations, opposition politicians and press freedom advocates who say journalists in Somalia are facing growing intimidation and repression.

Journalists detained after reporting on prison abuse allegations

The detentions come amid rising political tension in Somalia as the president’s mandate approaches its scheduled end on May 15, with opposition figures warning of increasing pressure on critics, activists and independent journalists in Mogadishu.

Abdirahman Abdishakur, a member of parliament and leader of the opposition Wadajir party, condemned the arrests and accused the government of escalating intimidation tactics as its term nears expiry.

He wrote in a post on X that the president of Somalia’s administration “appears consumed by fear, confusion as the end of its mandate approaches”.

He added: “Instead of addressing the growing public anger over forced displacement, land grabbing, and pursuing an inclusive political settlement to guide the country through this fragile transitional period, the administration has intensified repression against journalists, activists and outspoken young people.”

Media organisations say Bulbul’s detention is believed to be linked to his reporting on allegations of abuse inside detention facilities, including coverage of the case of Sadia Moalim Ali, a 27-year-old rickshaw driver jailed after participating in peaceful protest and social media activism in Somalia.

Ali has accused prison authorities of torture and mistreatment while in custody. In a report published on Thursday, she described being abused inside Mogadishu central prison.
She said she was stripped naked by two male guards in a room monitored by CCTV, kicked, beaten with a baton and left for two days in a small cell without food. The allegations circulated widely across Somali media outlets, Facebook and X, drawing public attention and criticism online.

Bulbul has also reported on alleged security force abuses and forced evictions in Mogadishu, according to colleagues and media organisations familiar with his work.

Somali journalists say police threatened them over protest coverage

At police headquarters, the three journalists said they were threatened by Mogadishu police chief Mahdi Omar Mumin, according to a statement released by the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS). The organisation said the reporters were warned against continuing coverage of planned protests and other politically sensitive developments in Mogadishu.

In the statement, the journalists alleged that Mumin told them he was “tired of arresting journalists” and that if they did not remain silent about the protests and other developments in Mogadishu, including the case of Ali, the only option remaining for them would be “death”.
The police have not publicly responded to the allegations made by the journalists or media groups.

Somali Stream, the media outlet employing Abdishakur Mohamed Mohamud, described the arrests as a targeted attack on independent journalism and freedom of expression in Somalia.

AbdiKani Hamud Abokor, the outlet’s managing director, said: “Somali Stream strongly condemns the unlawful detention of Abdishakur [Mohamed] Mohamud, Abdihafid Nor [Barre], and Mohamed Bulbul. This is a deliberate attempt to terrorise journalists, suppress independent reporting and instil fear across Somalia’s media community.”

Press freedom concerns grow in Somalia

The incident followed a series of earlier arrests involving journalists in Somalia this week. On May 6, at least five local journalists were detained and had their equipment confiscated, according to the Somali Journalists Syndicate.

Two broadcast journalists – Ja’far Mohamed Jim’ale and cameraman Nur Hasan Ali – remained in detention, with their whereabouts still unknown, the organisation added.
Press freedom organisations have repeatedly warned about worsening conditions for journalists in Somalia, where reporters often face intimidation, violence, censorship and security threats while covering politics, protests and human rights issues.

According to the World Press Freedom Index, Somalia ranks 126th out of 180 countries. Reporters Without Borders says journalists operate in an environment marked by insecurity and persistent threats.

More than 50 media workers have been killed in Somalia since 2010, making the country one of the most dangerous places in Africa for journalists and independent media workers, according to press freedom watchdogs.

The Somali authorities have not issued an official response to the latest allegations involving the detention and assault of journalists in Mogadishu.

Political tensions in Mogadishu have been rising in recent weeks, with opposition leaders warning of a widening crackdown on dissent ahead of planned protests expected on Sunday.

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