Press Freedom

CAJ Welcomes Release of Editor and Calls for Safety of Journalists in Somalia

The Congress of African Journalists (CAJ) has welcomed the release of Radio Hiigsi Editor Mohamed Abduwahab Nuur(Abuuja) from five-month detention by Somali National Intelligence (NIS) officers since March 7, 2020.

Journalists fleeing from threats and abuses from state ahead of Somalia elections

ISTANBUL, Turkey (HORN OBSERVER) - Journalists in Somalia have said they are fleeing their country due to increased violence and threats from the state security forces ahead of the country's disputed general elections.

CAJ Calls on African Governments to End Attacks on Journalists in the Covid-19 Pandemic Period

NAIROBI (HORN OBSERVER) The Congress of African Journalists (CAJ) held a maiden conference on "Covid-19 Impacts on Journalists and the Media: Building up To Face Challenges of Covid-19 and Aftermath" on 29 and 30 July 2020.

Radio Hiigsi Editor Mohamed Abuuja is freed after nearly five months in arbitrary detention

MOGADISHU, Somalia/ Washington D.C, USA, 05 August, 2020 – After long struggle for justice, Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Somali Media Association (SOMA) and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights welcome today's verdict by the Somali Military Court's to release Radio Hiigsi editor, Mohamed…

SJS and SOMA jointly call for protection of Somalia's press freedom

MOGADISHU, Somalia 30 July, 2020 – Following weeks of legal battle in the Banadir Regional Court, Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and Somali Media Association (SOMA) on Thursday joined by Goobjoog Media Group's Director in expressing concern over the deteriorating situation of the press freedom…

Joint petition to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention for Detained journalist Mohamed Abdiwahab Nuur

Mogadishu, Somalia and Washington, DC– On July 27, 2020, the Somali Journalists Syndicate, the Somali Media Association, lawyer Daahir Ali and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights jointly submitted a petition to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of detained journalist, Mohamed…

Killer at large as family of Somali camera journalist killed by a police officer lingers for justice

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) On the afternoon of July 26, 2018 Abdirizak Qasim Iman, a 19-years-old Somali video and photojournalist with the privately owned SBS TV, was returning from a normal assignment at the SIMAD University in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, after covering the graduation event there,…

AU Welcomes FGS-FMS meeting in Dhusamareb

Addis Ababa, The African Union Commission notes and welcomes the meeting between Somalia's Federal Government (FGS) and Federal Members State (FMS) leaders in Dhusamareeb and is encouraged by the leaders'commitment to establishing a technical committee to discuss the modalities for the 2020…

Banadir Regional Authorities force local TV to fire a journalist who reported IDP eviction

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) A local TV reporter in Mogadishu has been fired from his job after reporting evictions of dozens of families in Mogadishu's Kaaraan district last week, the journalist and colleagues said.

SJS & SOMA concerned about continued persecution against Goobjoog Journalist

MOGADISHU, Somalia 14 July 2020 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and Somali Media Association (SOMA) are concerned about the continued prosecution against Goobjoog journalist, Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye as the second day of hearing his case took place on Tuesday 14 July, 2020.

Hopes dashed for families of murdered Somali journalists

MOGADISHU (Horn Observer) - "We are suffering until today. No justice. Nobody investigated the murder of Hassan. We are hopeless. We need support. Following the murder of my husband I cannot sustain my children," says Habiba Adan Ahmed, 35-year-old wife of slain Somali journalist, Hassan Osman…

Mogadishu court adjourns case against Goobjoog journalist Gurbiye, SJS and SOMA call for the AG to drop charges

MOGADISHU, Somalia 7 July, 2020 – Somali Media Association (SOMA) and Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) jointly call for the Office of the Attorney General (AG) of the Federal Government of Somalia to drop charges against Goobjoog Editor, Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye who appeared today before the Banadir…

HRW: Baseless Charges Against Prominent Somali Journalist

On July 7, Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye, the chief editor and deputy director of the independent Goobjoog Media Group, is expected to appear in court in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.

Joint Press Release: Amid increased violence on independent press, SJS and SOMA call for Press Freedom protection

MOGADISHU, Somalia 05 July, 2020 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and Somali Media Association (SOMA) jointly call for the protection of the safety of the journalists and freedom of the press amid an increased violence by state actors against independent media and journalists in Somalia and Somaliland

Ethiopia cracks down media, arrests key oppisition figures amid protests

Addis Ababa -Ethiopia - The Ethiopian government has arrested the prominent Oromo activist Jawar Mohammed as well as journalists of Oromia Media Network (OMN), Yeroo media and ONN.

Amnesty International: Somali authorities must immediately release journalist Mohamed Abdiwahab Nur (Abuja)

Amnesty International is concerned about the continued detention of journalist Mohamed Abdiwahab Nur (Abuja) and the organization is calling on Somalia authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him. Amnesty International is also worried that the journalist who was arbitrarily arrested and…

CPJ condemns Ethiopian internet shutdown and Oromia Media Network raid

Nairobi, Kenya– In response to a nationwide internet shutdown in Ethiopia and a police raid on the Oromia Media Network, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:

SJS condemns closure of Radio Gedo and Somaliland's order to delist Universal TV and Star TV

MOGADISHU, Somalia 29 June, 2020 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) calls for Somali authorities in Gedo to allow Radio Gedo to resume operations and withdraw security forces from the radio premises as we also call for Somaliland authorities to cease its crackdown on Universal TV and Star TV.

SOMA condemns shutdown of its member radio, Radio Gedo in Doolow town

MOGADISHU- Somali Media Association (SOMA) is shocked to learn the closure of yet another media station, Radio Gedo, member of SOMA, based in the town of Doolow by the NISA on 28 June, 2020., the latest in a string of violence against the media stations across Somalia.

Somaliland shutters independent TV, the second in three days

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) strongly condemns the raid and the closure of Universal TV headquarters in Hargeisa by Somaliland police on Saturday 27 June, 2020, the second station shuttered in three days.