Press Freedom

Somali security forces attack journalists covering protest in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) Somali security forces on Sunday attacked journalists covering protests in Mogadishu, beating a female radio journalist Fardowso Mohamud Sahal and confiscated her equipment at Daljirka Dahsoon (The unknown soldier monument), according to a statement released by the…

Somalia President's reprimand of media representatives during World Press Freedom Day.

Mogadishu, Somalia (Horn Observer) Since its proclamation by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. The World Press Freedom Day, celebrated on May 3, remains an important day in the quest for the freedom to speak, impart and receive…

Fahad, Abdinur in hot soup over radio raid

MOGADISHU., Somalia (HORN OBSERBER) - A local radio station based in Somali capital has filed a lawsuit against the Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Fahad Yasin and Villa Somalia Deputy Chief of Staff, Abdinur Mohamed Ahmed over the 27 April raid on their base.

WPFD 2021: Facebook disregards safety of journalists in Somalia, fails to tackle disinformation and threats on press freedom

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 03 May 2021 – Facebook has become a platform for online attacks, death threats including threats of beheadings against journalists in Somalia and their families amid an increase of hate speech, incitement to violence and calls for murder targeted to media workers and critics, a…

Statement by the Somali Prime Minister on World Press Freedom Day

PRESS RELEASE Mogadishu, 3rd May 2021: The Prime Minister of Somalia, H.E. Mohamed Hussein Roble, congratulates all Somali Journalists and Media, Individually and as groups in Media Organizations on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day.

WPFD 2021: Press freedom under attack in the era of misinformation and threats in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia – On World Press Freedom Day, Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) once again calls for the safeguarding of press freedom and allow access to reliable information in an era of misinformation and threats as we also demand accountability for the crimes against journalists in Somalia.

Somali journalists work harsh enviroment with meagre salary - survey

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - Lack of conducive environment has made work precarious for many journalists in the horn of Africa nation, local media watchdog based in Mogadishu said.

US Embassy in Mogadishu condemns attacks on journalists and Independent media in Somalia

Mogadishu – Somalia (Horn Observer) United States Embassy in Mogadishu on Tuesday condemned all attacks on journalists and independent media in Somalia, shortly after a local radio station was raided and sent off-air in Mogadishu and two other journalists remain in custody in Somaliland.

Turkish trained forces storm local radio station in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - Turkish trained forces have today destroyed equipment including computers belonging to a privately owned radio station based in Mogadishu, the station and media watchdog confirmed Tuesday.

Journalists arbitrary detained, harassed in Mogadishu, Galmudug and Somaliland

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 26 April 2021 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) condemns the arbitrary arrests and other threats against journalists in Mogadishu, Galmudug and Somaliland while also calls for the immediate freedom of journalists Adan Abdi Idle and Mohamed Omar Yusuf held in Hargeisa and Galkayo…

SJS alarmed by the increased attacks on journalists across Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia 27 March, 2021 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is alarmed by the increased attacks against the media professionals in Somalia with more than five incidents reported in February alone, making the press freedom situation more precarious.

Somalia: Journalist Kilwe finally free after 84 days in prison on spurious allegation

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 22 March 2021 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) welcomes the release of freelance journalist Kilwe Adan Farah from the Garowe jail on Monday 22 March 2021 following Puntland president's decree to grant a special pardon.

SJS condemns police gun shooting that caused injury of Goobjoog cameraman in Mogadishu, calls for investigation

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 21 March 2021 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) condemns the gun shooting incident that resulted the serious injury of Goobjoog Media Group's cameraman, Sharma'arke Abdinur Wehliye by a Somali police officer in Mogadishu on Saturday night 20 March.

A military court in Somalia's Puntland's sentences freelance journalist to three years in jail

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 17 March 2021 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) protests against the three years jail sentence handed down to freelance journalist Kilwe Adan Farah today by Puntland's Supreme Court of Armed Forces during what SJS and its lawyers described as a farcical kangaroo court trial…

Somalia: RFK Human Rights Calls for Immediate Release of Somali Journalist Kilwe Adan Farah - statement

Farah's illegal arrest and detention not only violate human rights law but send a chilling message to journalists in Somalia, where press freedoms have been rapidly deteriorating.

Somalia: Authorities must end arbitrary arrests and persecution of journalists in Puntland

Authorities in Somalia's Puntland regional state have escalated their attacks on media freedom by intimidating, harassing and arbitrarily arresting journalists ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections, Amnesty International said today.

Al-Shabaab takes credit for assassinating critical journalist in central Somalia

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) In the past few months, journalist Jamal Farah Adan knew that he was the enemy of the al-Qaeda-affiliate group al-Shabaab.

SJS condemns the sham trial of freelance journalist Kilwe by a Puntland military court

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 03 March, 2021 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) condemns the three months jail sentence handed down to freelance journalist Kilwe Adan Farah by the Puntland Military Court during what SJS and its lawyers describe as "a sham trial" in Garowe on Wednesday 03 March 2021.

Communication Submitted to African Commission on Human Rights for Kilwe Farah, Journalist Detained in Puntland since December because of his media work

Justice Abroad's Michael Polak, who is instructed by the family of the journalist Kilwe Farah and is acting with the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) has today submitted a complaint to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the "ACHPR"). The complaint concernsthe breach…

Freelance journalist Kilwe appears before Puntland Military Court, SJS calls for his freedom

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 27 February, 2021 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is concerned by the Puntland authorities' use of a military tribunal to prosecute freelance journalist Kilwe Adan Farah who appeared before the military court today on 27 February 2021. SJS calls the Puntland military prosecutor…