Human Rights

Ethiopia: On 2nd anniversary of conflict, Amnesty campaign to highlight gravity of human rights crisis

NAIROBI (HORN OBSERVER) Ahead of the two-year anniversary of northern Ethiopia's ongoing armed conflict, which broke out on 3 November 2020 and has since led to appalling violations by parties on all sides, Flavia Mwangovya, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for campaigns East…

Somalia: Al-Shabaab must urgently stop carrying out attacks against civilians

NAIROBI (HORN OBSERVER) The armed group Al-Shabaab must end its indiscriminate attacks against civilians and the Somali authorities must also ensure that civilians are protected, Amnesty International said today, after a twin car bombing in Mogadishu on Saturday, claimed by Al-Shabaab, killed at least…

Somalia: When Islamists gain power, they attack journalists and women

Early this week, Somalia's prime minister, Hamze Abdi Barre spoke unexpectedly to threaten journalists and ban constitutionally granted media freedom in Somalia. He vowed to crash critical and independent journalism. He was speaking few days after the secretary-general of the Somali Journalists…

Somali Journalist Syndicate Secretary General Abdalle Mumin Detained for Press Freedom Work: Submission to UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Made Today

Justice Abroad's Michael Polak has today submitted a complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention for the Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Abdalle Mumin. The complaint concerns Mr Mumin's arbitrary detention based on his work as Secretary General of the…

Somalia media fraternity condemn actions of the Somalia's deputy minister of information for persecuting Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, call for accountability against him and other government officials

MOGADISHU, Somalia 21 October 2022 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Somali Media Association (SOMA), and Somali Mechanism for Safety of Journalists (SMSJ) condemn the continued detention of Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, Secretary General of Somali Journalists Syndicate and Somali Mechanism for Safety…

Joint Statement: Somalia Government Officials should stop pressure on the judiciary to influence Abdalle Ahmed Mumin's case

MOGADISHU, Somalia 15 October 2022 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Somali Media Association (SOMA), Somali Independent Media Houses Association (SIMHA) and Somali Mechanism for Safety of Journalists (SMSG) call for the Somali government to stop the interference and pressure on the Somali judiciary,…

Update: Somali Media Advocacy groups Express deep concern about the Continued of Abdalle Ahmed Mumin

MOGADISHU, Somalia 13 October 2022 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Somali Media Association (SOMA) and Somalia Mechanism for Safety of Journalists (SMSJ condemn the continued detention by the Somali government to the Secretary General of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) Abdalle Ahmed Mumin…

Somali media fraternity expresses concern about the Somalia govt's directive that may restrict free expression and media freedom

MUQDISHO, Soomaaliya, 10 Oktoobar 2022 – Bahda saxaafadda Soomaaliyeed iyo ururrada saxafiyiinta* ayaa ka walaacsan awaamiirta cusub ee ay soo saartay dowladda federaalka Soomaaliya ee ku saleysan xayiraadda iyo joojinta waxa ay ugu yeertay dowladdu "fidinta fikradaha xagjirnimada iyo argagixisada".

Amid growing risks, Somali journalists receive safety training funded by Canada

MOGADISHU, Somalia 02 October 2022 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) concludes a three-day journalists' safety training in Puntland benefitting 20 journalists from across local media houses and freelancers.

Somalia: Restrictions on access to information entrenching self-censorship among the media

MOGADISHU, Somalia 28 September 2022 – On the International Day for Universal Access to Information, Somali journalists have little to celebrate about. The often precarious and volatile environment is coupled with restrictions on access to information, duress and insecurity.

Somalia: SJS conducts human rights journalism training in Garowe

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) trains 16 local journalists in Puntland on human rights journalism as part of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED)-supported program to promote human rights in Somalia.

USAID announces $1.5 M to respond to the impact of the drought on Somali children's education

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) USAID has announced that it will provide $1.5 for the Somali children's education programs as the drought had forced thousands of Somali children out of school.

SJS and SOMA condemn Somaliland's suspension on independent TV

MOGADISHU, Somalia 09 September, 2022 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) strongly condemn the suspension against the privately-owned independent CBA television in Hargeisa by the Somaliland Ministry of Information on Wednesday.

Rwandan prosecutors request 22-year prison sentences for 3 Iwacu TV journalists

Nairobi, Kenya—Rwandan authorities should release three Iwacu TV journalists held in detention, ensure they face no further legal harassment, and guarantee that members of the press are not imprisoned for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.

Somalia: SJS concludes German-supported women in the media empowerment training in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia 24 August, 2022 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) concluded a three-day training for Somali women journalists benefitting 20 female journalists and producers in Mogadishu on Friday.

One millionth person displaced by Somalia drought

Mogadishu (Horn Observer) — A devastating drought in Somalia has reached unprecedented levels, as the one millionth person displaced by the drought was registered this week.

Somaliland detains BBC Media Action staff while Somali police spokesman threatens reporters covering police operations in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia 25 July 2022 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) call for Somaliland authorities to halt the threats and harassment against British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) staff and journalists in Hargeisa; unconditionally release five members of…

Tigrayan authorities in Ethiopia detain 5 Tigrai TV journalists

Nairobi, July 20, 2022 – Authorities in the Ethiopian region of Tigray should immediately release five Tigrai TV journalists who were recently taken into custody for their work, as well as all other members of the press behind bars, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday.

Mogadishu police shoot, beat and detain 2 reporters; SWS holds journalist incommunicado, Somaliland bans BBC Somali

Mogadishu (Horn Observer) Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) call for South West State (SWS) authorities to immediately and unconditionally free journalist Hassan Ali Daud held in undisclosed detention by South West State intelligence officers in Baidoa since…

Police in Somalia's capital detain, beat, confiscate equipment and fire at journalists in duty

Mogadishu, Somalia (Horn Observer) Members of the Somali police on Monday beat, detain, confiscate journalists' equipment and fired at live bullets, in a move that attracted condemnation from the Somali journalists Syndicate.