Mogadishu – The International Press Institute (IPI) has voiced serious concern about increasing attacks, detentions, intimidation, and harassment targeting journalists in Somalia, especially throughout May 2026.
In a statement issued on 29 May 2026, IPI appealed to the global diplomatic community to enhance engagement with Somali authorities and push for greater emphasis on protecting journalists and press freedom.
The organization reported that assaults on journalists and limitations on independent reporting have risen as Somalia conducts local council and state assembly elections, amid wider national discussions regarding the current government’s tenure and democratic procedures.
IPI and its partners recorded numerous instances of violence against journalists in Somalia, among them climate and environmental reporters. The organization also highlighted a growing suppression of media coverage concerning forced evictions.
On 6 May 2026, journalist Shukri Aabi Abdi and cameraman Abdullahi Abdifatah Sidow from Shabelle TV were detained by armed police in Mogadishu’s Hamar Jajab district while reporting on forced evictions.
The officers allegedly assaulted Shukri, injuring her finger, confiscated her phone, and seized the team’s camera equipment before transporting both journalists to the Hamar Jajab police station. They were later released the same day without formal charges.
Also on 6 May, Kalsan TV journalist Ja’far Mohamed Jim’ale and cameraman Noradin Hasan Ali were taken into custody by police while covering confrontations between residents and security personnel in Mogadishu’s Dayniile district.
The journalists were apparently moved between police stations without warning, seemingly to hide their location from relatives and colleagues. While detained, they were allegedly subjected to degrading treatment, and their camera equipment and phones were taken away. They were released without any charges the next day.
On 8 May 2026, personnel from Somalia’s U.S.-trained Mobile Vehicle Checkpoint Unit and officers from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) reportedly stormed a restaurant in Mogadishu and detained 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 article by The Guardian concerning a woman allegedly tortured in detention.
They also claimed to have received death threats warning them against covering planned opposition demonstrations in Mogadishu. SJS additionally reported that Somali Stream Online had earlier faced threats related to its coverage of forced evictions and planned protests.
The Somali Women Media Association also documented a rising tide of online attacks aimed at journalists and independent media outlets on Meta platforms. Shabelle TV, Universal TV, and Dalsan TV are among the media organizations whose content has allegedly been deleted or restricted through organized reporting efforts.
“As Somalia navigates a significant political phase characterized by local elections and talks about the current government’s term, independent journalism is crucial. We call on the international diplomatic community and multilateral partners to prioritize the protection of journalists in Somalia and engage Somali authorities regarding the necessity to uphold press freedom and provide genuine accountability for violations against journalists,” stated IPI Africa Programme Lead Nompilo Simanje.
“These recent cases exemplify a progressively perilous environment for independent journalism in Somalia. Journalists must be allowed to report freely and securely without apprehension of arrest, violence, or harassment. Persistent attacks on the media undermine democratic participation and public confidence, demanding immediate international focus and sustained pressure on Somali authorities,” Simanje added.
IPI also observed that during Somalia’s Universal Periodic Review at the U.N. Human Rights Council in May, numerous nations expressed concerns about freedom of expression and the treatment of journalists in the nation.
Australia, for example, called on Somalia to eliminate expression-based offenses in the Anti-Terrorism Act and cease the prosecution and harassment of journalists.