Somalia records 72 media freedom violations in 2025, journalist killed

Monday April 20, 2026

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s media landscape is still operating under heavy pressure, with journalists facing repeated attacks and those behind them largely escaping punishment, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) said.

In its annual State of the Media report, released Sunday, the union recorded 72 violations of media freedom from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025, and said the pattern of abuse was broad, persistent and deeply rooted.

The report said 70 of the cases involved individual journalists, while two targeted media organizations, underscoring sustained pressure on both reporters and institutions. One journalist, Mohamed Abukar Mohamed Dabaashe, was killed during the year.

Banadir region accounted for 39 of the 72 cases, or 54.2% of all violations, making it the hardest-hit area. North Western State of Somalia followed with 31.9%, while the remaining incidents were spread across Puntland State, Galmudug, Jubaland and Southwest. The report also showed spikes during politically sensitive periods, with May representing 20.8% of the cases and September 15.3%, a pattern NUSOJ linked to reporting that touched on sensitive issues.

The union said the violations included arbitrary detention, threats, physical attacks, legal pressure and interference with reporting. Many incidents, it noted, came after coverage of corruption, land disputes, political disputes and security operations, suggesting a deliberate attempt to curb scrutiny and shape the flow of information.

The report singled out security forces, especially the Banadir Regional Police, saying they were responsible for more than half of all documented violations. Police were repeatedly identified as the chief perpetrators nationwide. NUSOJ said no officer or security official has been held to account, a reality it says has deepened a climate of impunity.

Working conditions for reporters also came under sharp criticism. Many journalists, the report said, earn less than $100 a month, while some receive only $20 to $50 or go unpaid altogether. With few contracts and little legal protection, many are left exposed to pressure and influence, raising questions about editorial independence and basic professional standards.

Women in the profession face particular danger. NUSOJ documented 29 cases of sexual and gender-based violence, more than half of them inside newsrooms and the rest online. The union said such abuse is often used to intimidate women journalists and force them out of the field.

The report also blamed the legal environment for worsening the problem. It pointed to the continued use of the 1964 Penal Code, parts of the 2020 Media Law and broad anti-terrorism provisions, saying they have been used to criminalize journalism, especially reporting on governance and security.

NUSOJ warned that the consequences reach beyond newsrooms, weakening transparency, accountability and the public’s access to information while threatening Somalia’s broader democratic trajectory.

“This report reveals a harsh truth, media freedom in Somalia is under constant assault and those responsible continue to act without consequence, making impunity the greatest enemy to media freedom in this country,” said NUSOJ Secretary General Omar Faruk Osman. “The killing of a journalist in 2025 is a clear reminder that the risks are real and can be fatal. When more than half of all violations are attributed to a single police force and no one is held accountable, it sends a dangerous message that attacks on journalists are tolerated. Ending impunity is not optional. It is the only way to protect journalism and defend the public’s right to information,” he added.

The union urged immediate reforms, including credible investigations, prosecutions of those responsible, stronger legal safeguards for press freedom, better pay and working conditions for journalists and full enforcement of the National Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists adopted in 2022.