North Western State of Somalia Frees Journalist Shafi’i Shaaciye Following a Week of Detention
MOGADISHU, Somalia, 22 January 2025 – There’s a fresh breeze of relief blowing through the corridors of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) today. After a tense week, journalist Shafi’i Abdi Mohamed, popularly known by his compatriots as Shaaciye, is back to navigating the bustling streets of Hargeisa rather than pacing a cell. Shaaciye’s time behind bars began under a tense cloud on Thursday, 16 January 2025, casting a shadow over both his life and the broader landscape for press freedom in North Western State of Somalia.
Imagine this: A seasoned scribe with a penchant for holding power accountable finds himself cuffed by the very authorities he scrutinizes—talk about irony. Upon his return to Hargeisa from a year-long stint in Mogadishu, where he continued his bold diatribes against North Western State of Somalia’s authorities through the mighty megaphone of social media, Shaaciye was met not with open arms, but with the cold steel of handcuffs. His Facebook critiques had clearly stirred the pot, irking those in power long enough for the North Western State of Somalia Police, under the command of Mohamed Adan Saqadhi, to come knocking at his door.
This rather abrupt entry into Shaaciye’s residence unfolded without any formal explanation, leaving many wondering: what exactly was he being punished for? The message from the police? Radio silence. Not a peep about the allegations against him—only whispers of orders from somewhere high above.
Here’s a flashback to the not-so-distant past. Fleeing to Mogadishu, Shaaciye was escaping the specter of looming threats from North Western State of Somalia’s national intelligence operatives. Unperturbed, he continued to wield his keyboard like a sword, slicing through stories of corruption and public disillusionment like a seasoned chef slicing onions—without the tears, of course. His spotlight on local malfeasance, especially within the police ranks, drew plenty of applause from those who dared to voice their own grievances.
Fast forward to 18 January: Shaaciye finds himself shuffled into the Maroodi Jeh Court, facing yet another week of detention. But this wasn’t the judiciary’s finest hour—it felt more like a grudging nod to formality. It took the weight of clan elders and compelling family appeals to finally pry him from the clutches of custody on Wednesday, 22 January. Their voices, reassuring as a mother’s lullaby, negotiated his release—but with a catch: keep the criticisms muted, refrain from further sparring with the law.
The SJS didn’t just heave a sigh of relief; they issued a rallying cry. They appealed directly to North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Abdillahi Irro. Their plea? Let not journalists become targets for merely exercising the rights supposedly enshrined in the national ethos.
“We breathe easier seeing Shaaciye’s release,” remarked SJS Secretary General Abdalle Mumin. “Yet, we can’t overlook the audacity of the raid and his wrongful detention that darkened the doorstep of free expression.” Abdalle’s call was crystal clear: uphold the burgeoning sense of freedom and safety sparked by President Irro’s election last November. It was an election that stepped into place like a promise of better days—a promise that must now reflect as brightly in the actions of the state as it did in its campaign promises.
As Shaaciye reclaims his life and lens, the broader tale gains momentum. It’s a chapter in a novel whose plotline is still unfolding, with freedom of speech and the pen’s power as its protagonists. What will the next act bring for the likes of Shaaciye and his ilk? That’s the million-dollar question that lingers in the air like smoke from a quenching campfire.
Report By Axadle
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
