Hargeisa (AX) — The arrest of a Horn Cable TV journalist in Hargeisa has intensified concerns over press freedom in North Western State of Somalia, coming days after the station aired an interview with a politician who said he planned to seek Somalia’s presidency.
Authorities detained journalist Abdirahman Egeh on Thursday, following the arrest of Abdikadir Mohamed Sharaay, a politician and academic who outlined his presidential ambitions during a Horn Cable TV interview broadcast in mid-October.
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During that interview, Sharaay said he planned to contest Somalia’s presidential election, scheduled for May 2027. He also argued that North Western State of Somalia should seek international recognition through negotiations with Mogadishu, rather than relying on Israel and other countries for support.
The comments prompted a heated social media debate, with several North Western State of Somalia politicians and commentators urging authorities to take action against Sharaay.
The precise circumstances of the two arrests remain unknown. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether Egeh’s detention was directly linked to the interview or to Sharaay’s arrest.
Journalists and media freedom advocates criticized Egeh’s detention, questioning why a reporter should face legal consequences for interviewing a person who expressed political opinions.
Somali human rights defender Ahmedsadik Yusuf Mohamed, who is based in exile in Uganda, condemned the reported arrest and voiced concern over the state of freedom of expression in North Western State of Somalia.
Sharaay has worked on education, development and environmental initiatives in several parts of Somalia.
His biographical information states that he previously served as a development adviser to the Jubbaland administration, where he worked on education, environmental protection and cooperation among cities.
He has also been involved in climate change awareness campaigns and urban greening projects in Mogadishu and Kismayo.
The detentions follow mounting criticism of North Western State of Somalia authorities over arrests of journalists connected to interviews featuring political criticism.
In August, authorities detained journalist Abdiqani Hussein Abokor, widely known as Baylood, after he interviewed poet Ismail Yusuf Abdi, known as Jiheeye, on Heegan TV. During the interview, Jiheeye criticized President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro over a property dispute.
North Western State of Somalia declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and operates its own government and security institutions. Its relationship with Mogadishu remains tense, particularly over sovereignty, international recognition and the territory’s political status.
Neither North Western State of Somalia’s government nor its security agencies had publicly stated the legal basis for arresting Sharaay and Egeh. Authorities had also not disclosed whether either man had been formally charged.
