Mogadishu (AX) — In the heart of Somalia’s turbulent landscape, a disturbing trend unfolds—a relentless crackdown on the press. Since mid-March, security forces have reportedly arrested, harassed, or intimidated at least 41 media workers. This alarming situation has sparked outrage among rights groups, who label it a “war on the truth.” The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has described the current period as an “alarming escalation” of hostilities against journalists.
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Among those raising the alarm are organizations such as CPJ and Somali media watchdogs, including the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ). Their meticulous documentation reveals that most of these incidents are concentrated in and around Mogadishu—a city already grappling with instability.
Who are these journalists, often seen as the frontline warriors of truth? They are individuals passionately committed to their craft, and they risk everything to bring stories to light. However, they now find themselves in the crosshairs, particularly when reporting on issues deemed sensitive by state authorities—such as terror attacks, public dissent, protests, and operations involving intelligence agencies.
Rights organizations argue that this crackdown is not happening in a vacuum. It appears as if the government, faced with faltering military campaigns against Al-Shabaab, is scrambling to control both the narrative and the violent insurgency challenging its authority. Following a deadly bombing near a presidential convoy and fierce skirmishes in the central regions, the authorities seem increasingly intent on limiting press coverage that could be perceived as detrimental to national security.
“The repression against the media and the attacks on journalists… aim to silence government critics,” remarks Abdullahi Hassan, a researcher at Amnesty International. “This isn’t merely a crime against free speech—it’s about controlling the narrative at all costs.”
A directive issued by Information Minister Daud Aweis Jama on March 6 effectively banned the publication of any content seen as “threatening national security” or “distorting information.” This alarming edict echoes a previous one from 2022 aimed at restricting reporting on Al-Shabaab. Such directives have emboldened security forces to raid newsrooms and detain journalists without much explanation—a troubling trend that’s chilling press freedom.
The CPJ has recorded an alarming series of arrests, detentions, and raids in Mogadishu since mid-March. Through interviews and investigations involving Somali partner organizations like SJS and FESOJ, a troubling pattern emerges: retaliation against reporters covering sensitive topics such as security matters and government protest.
Consider the story of Bahjo Abdullahi Salad, a dedicated reporter for RTN Somali TV. On March 15, NISA agents stormed her home after she criticized waste disposal in a TikTok video. She spent four hours in detention merely for speaking her mind. Or reflect on the chaos of March 18, when police raided Risaala Media Corporation after it aired footage of a bombing aimed at the presidential convoy, leading to the arrest of five journalists.
The saga continues—a freelance reporter, Mohamed Ibrahim Osman Bulbul, found himself in hiding after publishing interviews critical of Somalia’s intelligence agency. Similarly, a group of journalists from Himilo TV and Mustaqbal Media were detained while covering a protest against sexual violence on March 28. With each story, the peril faced by journalists becomes increasingly vivid.
“This is a painful experience,” says Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the secretary general of SJS. “Journalists are being punished for doing their jobs. The space for free expression shrinks every day.” Each arrest, every moment of intimidation, represents not just a setback for those in the field, but a broader threat to civil society, where the flow of information is essential for a healthy democracy.
As the world watches and responds, one wonders: what will it take for the tide to turn? For journalists to move freely, for the stories that matter to be told without fear? Perhaps the answer lies in the collective voice of those who refuse to be silenced, those who continue to fearlessly document reality, no matter the consequence.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
