National Human Rights Commission Receives Media Report as NUSOJ Urges Action on Violations

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia’s National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) on Monday met with the National Independent Human Rights Commission (NIHRC), led by Chairperson Dr Maryan Qasim, to formally hand over its 2025 State of the Media Report. The document records 72 verified violations of media freedom between January and December 2025, painting a stark picture of a press corps operating under constant strain and official pressure.

The report details a wide pattern of abuses, ranging from arbitrary arrests and intimidation to physical assaults and curbs on journalistic activity. Of the recorded cases, 70 involved individual journalists and two targeted media houses, underscoring the fact that both reporters and the institutions they work for remain vulnerable. NUSOJ said it submitted the findings so the abuses would be officially acknowledged and addressed through Somalia’s human rights framework.

Particular alarm was raised over the continued climate of impunity and the seriousness of the violations, including the killing of a journalist in 2025. NUSOJ said these cases reflect the persistent dangers journalists face and amount to clear breaches of the right to freedom of expression. The report also shows the violations are spread widely, with Banadir and Hargeisa accounting for a significant share, a sign of both the scale and urgency of the problem.

The meeting centered on the need for stronger accountability and more effective institutional action. NUSOJ said many of the abuses, especially arrests and harassment carried out by security personnel, have not been properly investigated or prosecuted, allowing repeated violations to continue unchecked.

Dr Maryan Qasim, joined by the Commission’s leadership, commissioners and director general, welcomed the report and said the NIHRC would examine its findings within the scope of its mandate to promote and protect human rights. She said freedom of expression, particularly media freedom, would receive special attention in light of the repeated attacks on journalists. She also described NUSOJ’s role as a leading media freedom advocate as complementary to the work of the Commission.

At the meeting, NUSOJ Secretary General Omar Faruk Osman said: “The findings of this report are based on internationally recognised standards of verification and documentation of media freedom cases, and leave no room for doubt. Journalists in Somalia continue to face serious and repeated violations, often at the hands of those mandated to protect them. Given its established legal mandate, we expect the National Independent Human Rights Commission to ensure these cases are thoroughly examined, accountability is pursued, and concrete measures are taken to end impunity and protect freedom of expression.”

NUSOJ said it remains committed to working closely with the National Independent Human Rights Commission to deepen cooperation and strengthen efforts to promote and defend fundamental human rights.