KISMAYO, Somalia — A broadcast journalist was shot dead Monday night in the southern port city of Kismayo after an altercation with a police officer, according to the National Union of Somali Journalists. Authorities say the officer has been arrested and an investigation is underway.
Abshir Khalif Shide Omar was killed at about 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 2, 2026, following a brief dispute with a police officer, NUSOJ said, citing initial inquiries. The union said the motive remains unclear and the full circumstances have yet to be determined.
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Colleagues told NUSOJ that Abshir was returning from an iftar gathering with fellow journalists after an evening of editing a program recorded earlier that day featuring politicians. He had recorded a voiceover for the segment, which was slated for release later that night, according to those who worked with him.
In a statement in Kismayo, Captain Shukri Farah Duale, spokesperson for the Jubbaland Police, confirmed that the officer suspected of shooting Abshir had been taken into custody and “will be brought to justice.” Police said a thorough investigation and prosecution process will follow. It is a rare instance in Kismayo of a police officer being promptly apprehended in the killing of a journalist, according to NUSOJ.
Abshir’s death appears to be the first reported killing of a journalist in Somalia this year. Press freedom groups and Somali media workers have long raised concerns about journalist safety and accountability for attacks on the press. NUSOJ called the killing a serious setback for media freedom in the country.
“This is a tragic and deeply troubling incident,” said Omar Faruk Osman, the union’s secretary general. “A police officer is entrusted with protecting citizens, including journalists carrying out their professional duties. When a journalist is killed in such circumstances, it raises grave concerns about the safety of media workers and the culture of accountability within law enforcement. We expect a swift, transparent and credible process that ensures justice is delivered and restores public confidence.”
Abshir had been working as a freelance journalist for the past three months. He previously worked with Jubbaland TV and Wamo Radio and had also been affiliated with Hornconnect, a privately owned media contractor, NUSOJ said.
NUSOJ extended condolences to Abshir’s family, friends and colleagues, and urged authorities to ensure full accountability and take concrete steps to prevent violence against media professionals. The union said it will continue monitoring the case and supporting journalists in Kismayo and across Somalia.
What we know so far:
- Victim: Broadcast journalist Abshir Khalif Shide Omar.
- Time and place: About 7:30 p.m. Monday in Kismayo.
- Incident: Fatal shooting following a short altercation with a police officer; motive undetermined.
- Police response: Suspected officer arrested; investigation and prosecution promised by Jubbaland Police.
- Context: Believed to be Somalia’s first reported journalist killing in 2026; NUSOJ calls for swift, transparent justice.
Authorities had not immediately released further details on the officer’s identity or what preceded the altercation. The status of the video program Abshir and his colleagues were preparing was not immediately clear.
As the inquiry proceeds, NUSOJ urged a credible process that addresses both the individual case and broader safeguards for reporters in Somalia. The union said restoring confidence will require consistent accountability when media workers are harmed and clearer protocols to prevent confrontations between journalists and security forces.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
