Mogadishu – The International Press Institute (IPI) has voiced serious apprehension over the escalating attacks, arrests, intimidation, and harassment of journalists in Somalia, particularly during May 2026.
In a statement issued on 29 May 2026, IPI urged the international diplomatic community to enhance engagement with Somali authorities and insist on prioritizing the protection of journalists and press freedom.
The organization noted that attacks on journalists and limitations on independent reporting have grown as Somalia conducts local council and state assembly elections, alongside broader national discussions about the current government’s term and democratic processes.
IPI and its partners recorded numerous instances of attacks against journalists in Somalia, including those covering climate and environmental topics. The organization also highlighted an intensified crackdown on media coverage of forced evictions.
On 6 May 2026, journalist Shukri Aabi Abdi and cameraman Abdullahi Abdifatah Sidow from Shabelle TV were detained by armed police officers in Mogadishu’s Hamar Jajab district while reporting on forced evictions.
The officers reportedly assaulted Shukri, injuring her finger, seized her phone, and confiscated the team’s camera equipment before transporting both journalists to the Hamar Jajab police station. They were later released the same day without any charges.
Also on 6 May, Kalsan TV journalist Ja’far Mohamed Jim’ale and cameraman Noradin Hasan Ali were arrested by police while covering clashes between residents and security forces in Mogadishu’s Dayniile district.
The journalists were supposedly transferred between police stations without notice, allegedly to hide their location from their families and colleagues. During their detention, they were allegedly subjected to degrading treatment, while their camera equipment and phones were confiscated. They were released without charge the following day.
On 8 May 2026, members of Somalia’s U.S.-trained Mobile Vehicle Checkpoint Unit and officers from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) reportedly raided a restaurant in Mogadishu and arrested three journalists: Mohamed Ibrahim Osman, SJS Secretary for Information and Human Rights; freelance journalist Abdihafid Nor Barre; and Abdishakur Mohamed Mohamud of Somali Stream Online.
According to the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), the journalists were beaten during the raid. Abdihafid Nor Barre reportedly sustained a head injury that caused bleeding after being struck with a pistol.
The journalists were allegedly blindfolded, handcuffed, transferred between several police facilities, and interrogated about their reporting, including a recent story published by The Guardian about a woman allegedly tortured in prison.
They also reported receiving death threats warning them against covering planned opposition protests in Mogadishu. SJS further noted that Somali Stream Online had previously received threats linked to its reporting on forced evictions and planned demonstrations.
The Somali Women Media Association also reported a growing wave of online attacks targeting journalists and independent media outlets on Meta platforms. Shabelle TV, Universal TV, and Dalsan TV are among the media outlets whose content has reportedly been removed or restricted through coordinated reporting campaigns.
“At a time when Somalia is undergoing an important political period marked by local elections and discussions surrounding the current government’s term, independent journalism is crucial. We call on the international diplomatic community and multilateral partners to prioritize the safety of journalists in Somalia and engage the Somali authorities on the need to uphold press freedom and ensure meaningful accountability for violations against journalists,” stated IPI Africa Programme Lead Nompilo Simanje.
“These recent incidents are examples of an increasingly dangerous environment for independent journalism in Somalia. Journalists must be able to report freely and safely without fear of arrest, violence, or intimidation. Continued attacks on the media threaten democratic participation and public trust, and they require urgent international attention and sustained pressure on Somali authorities,” Simanje added.
IPI also noted that during Somalia’s Universal Periodic Review at the U.N. Human Rights Council in May, several states raised concerns about freedom of expression and the treatment of journalists in the country.
Australia, for instance, urged Somalia to repeal expression-based offences in the Anti-Terrorism Act and end the prosecution and harassment of journalists.