Concern Mounts Over Abducted Journalist in Somalia

Mogadishu, Somalia – March 25, 2025 – With a heavy heart, the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) voices serious concerns regarding the unsettling disappearance of journalist Ibrahim Mohamed Mayow. He was reportedly abducted while executing his professional duties in Afgooye, roughly 30 kilometers from Mogadishu, on the morning of March 24.

Mayow, known for his diligence and unwavering commitment to truth, was on assignment for Dalsan TV, a reputable news outlet based in Mogadishu. That fateful day, he was in Afgooye, diligently covering the aftermath of an Al-Shabaab assault. According to eyewitness accounts from colleagues and family, armed forces reportedly linked to Banadir Regional Police Commissioner Mahdi Omar Muumin—famously referred to as Moalim Mahdi—summoned him. Shortly thereafter, Mayow vanished without a trace, his location shrouded in mystery.

“When truth becomes a casualty, society suffers immeasurably.”
— Anonymous

One local reporter shared a conversation with SJS, recounting how Moalim Mahdi summoned Mayow after Dalsan TV aired footage depicting the aftermath of a mortar shelling in Afgooye. It’s a vibrant town, rich in agricultural heritage, situated in the fertile Lower Shabelle region. Ironically, Moalim Mahdi, once an Al-Shabaab member and now a pivotal enforcement figure, appointed as Mogadishu’s police chief, was reportedly present during the turbulent attack on Monday.

Concern grew as fellow journalists, driven by camaraderie and solidarity, visited Afgooye’s police station seeking clarity. However, they were met with blank stares and denials—the officers feigning ignorance of Mayow’s whereabouts or any hint of his detention.

Dalsan TV took to Facebook in an earnest plea, stating, “The police forces in Afgooye district have arrested journalist Ibrahim Mayow, affiliated with Dalsan Media. The journalist, detained in Afgooye, has reportedly been transferred to CID headquarters in Mogadishu.” A chilling assertion considering the dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones.

Regrettably, this isn’t Mayow’s first brush with danger. Just over a week ago, he narrowly escaped an Al-Shabaab offensive in Awdheegle district, another testament to his courage. Tragically, amidst the chaos, he lost invaluable equipment—his camera; yet, thankfully, not his life.

Every day, Somali journalists walk a razor’s edge, reporting military upheavals and Al-Shabaab incursions. Tragically, only last week, 24 journalists faced brief detentions, and a Mogadishu-based radio station was forcefully shut down after covering yet another bomb incident—a stark reminder of the inherent dangers of a reporter’s life. The media fraternity also mourns the loss of colleague Mohamed Abukar Dabaashe, a victim of the same violence. This begs the question: in the pursuit of truth, how much is too much?

SJS openly calls for Mayow’s immediate and secure release, urging transparency from the Mogadishu police under Moalim Mahdi’s leadership. Abducting a journalist is unquestionably illegal and constitutes a direct assault on press freedom and human rights.

As members of this profession striving to inform the world, journalists must be safeguarded, not targeted. It is the inherent responsibility of the Somali government and its militias to honor the sanctity of press freedom and the well-being of those courageously reporting the truth, often under perilous circumstances.

“The abduction of journalist Ibrahim Mohamed Mayow is a grave violation of press freedom and an attack on the fundamental rights of journalists in Somalia. We condemn these actions and we call for the immediate disclosure of his whereabouts and for his unconditional release,” declared Abdalle Mumin, the resolute SJS Secretary General.

And as if facing external threats wasn’t daunting enough, Mumin reflects with a somber tone, “While Al-Shabaab targets civilians, including journalists, in its terror attacks, it is deeply saddening that the Somali government is also attacking journalists, raiding media stations, and kidnapping reporters, such as Ibrahim Mayow, from the field. This poses a grave threat to press freedom and the safety of those working to report the truth in Somalia.”

Edited by Ali Musa | Axadle Times International – Monitoring.