Press Freedom

Somaliland: Female singers face criminal charges for traveling to Mogadishu

HARGEISA, Somaliland - (Horn Observer) Somaliland authorities arrested female singers Hamda Yousuf Ibrahim and Barwaaqo Mohamed Hashi in April and face criminal charges only for traveling to Mogadishu, Somalia's capital, Human Rights Centre Somaliland in Hargeisa said in a statement.

Somalia journalists union welcomes EU Parliament's call to end continuous attacks on journalists and restrictions on media freedom

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) welcomes the statement on Tuesday 19 May, by Maria Arena, Chair of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights, on the continuous attacks on journalists and restrictions on media freedom in Somalia.

EU pays tribute to Somali journalists, calls govt to investigate killings

BRUSSELS (HORN OBSERVER) The Chair of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights, Maria Arena on Tuesday spoke on the continuous attacks on journalists and restrictions on media freedom in Somalia.

Somali media fraternity condemns recent violations against media and journalists in Mogadishu and Beledhawo

MOGADISHU, Somalia 19 May, 2020- The Somali media fraternity: Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ), Somali Media Association (SOMA) and Somali Independent Media Houses Association (SIMHA) outrageously condemns the recent violations against journalists and the…

Somali media and journalists' representatives call for free press and end of impunity in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia (Horn Observer)- Representatives from Somali Journalists union and employers associations jointly condemned the continued enforced disappearance against Radio Hiigsi editor, Mohamed Abduwahaab Nuur (Abuuja) since 7th March in Mogadishu and the acts of pressure and intimidations by…

Somali police forced injured female journalist to recant complaint case

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Mogadishu's Waberi police commissioner, Mohamed Abdukadir and his officers with the backing of Villa Somalia Communications Officer, have forced female journalist, Safiya Osman Abdulle to withdraw her case against Waberi police and district officials following an assault…

United States calls for Protection of Press Freedom in Somalia

The United States Embassy in Mogadishu calls on the Somali Government and people to allow and encourage transparent reporting on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate the critical efforts to protect and preserve the health and safety of the people of Somalia.

AFEX Condemns Murder of Journalist in Somalia

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) condemns the murder of journalist Said Yusuf Ali, of privately-owned Kalsan TV in Mogadishu, Somalia.

JOINT STATEMENT: TV journalist stabbed to death in Somali capital

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 04 may, 2020 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ), Somali Media Association (SOMA) and Somali Independent Media Houses Association (SIMHA), strongly condemn the killing of Kalsan TV journalist, Said Yusuf Ali who was stabbed to death in…

JOINT STATEMENT ON WPFD2020: Media Freedom Under Siege in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia 03 May, 2020 – On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day May 3 2020, we the undersigned Somalia media fraternity express our grave concern on the spate of threats, attacks and intimidation against journalists and media professionals in the past year.

Somalia: Spate of Arrests, Intimidation of Journalists

NAIROBI – Somali authorities have been stepping up their intimidation of journalists as the country faces a growing number of Covid-19 cases. Since mid-April 2020 alone, authorities arbitrarily detained three journalists, accused two of various crimes, and prohibited a local radio station from broadcasting…

Halima-Sadiya Abdullahi: Veteran Somali Journalist Helping Her Community and Women Colleagues

GAROWE – At the age of 30, Halima-Sadiya Abdullahi is already a veteran Somali journalist and well-known to the public in her home state of Puntland in northern Somalia.

On International Workers' Day, SJS calls for adequate protection and fair pay for Somali journalists

MOGADISHU, Somalia 01 May, 2020 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) wishes all Somali journalists a Happy International Workers' Day.

Somali journalist Mohamed Abdiwahab Nuur held incommunicado since early March

Nairobi, April 30, 2020 -- Somali authorities should immediately release radio journalist Mohamed Abdiwahab Nuur and allow him to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Letter Urging Somali Government to Protect Free Speech and End Violence Against Journalists

April 22, 2020 H.E. Mr. Mohamed Abdullahi 'Farmaajo' President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Re: Protecting Free Speech and Journalism and Ending Violence Against Journalists Your Excellency:

SOMALIA: SJS welcomes VOA reporter's freedom and the decision to revoke ban of Radio Barawe's local dialect program

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 23 April, 2020- Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) welcomes the release of Voice of America (VOA) journalist, Mukhtar Mohamed Atosh on Wednesday 22 April, 2020 and praises the decision to revoke the ban on Radio Barawe's programming in the Bravanese language.

To crack down on free press, Somalia accuses an imprisoned journalist of being member of 'terror group'

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 22 April, 2020- Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) strongly refutes the trumped up and baseless allegations by the Somali Federal Ministry of Information against Radio Hiigsi's editor, Mohamed Abduwahaab Nuur (Abuuja) held incommunicado since March 7.

SOMALIA: SJS condemns illegal ban on Radio Barawe's Baravanese dialect program

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 21 April, 2020 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) condemns the strange and unconstitutional order to ban the community-owned Radio Barawe's programming in the locally spoken Baravanese dialect by the authorities in Barawe, Lower Shabelle region, on Monday 20 April, 2020.

VOA journalist detained after reporting death of a rape victim in Somalia's South West State

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 21 April 2020 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest of Voice of America (VOA) correspondent in Baidoa, Mukhtar Mohamed Atosh on Monday 20 April, 2020 and calls for authorities to stop attempts to charge him.

United States bolsters Somalia Covid-19 response with donation of 350 hospital beds

The United States Embassy Mogadishu, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will donate 350 hospital beds and 500 bedsheets to support the Somali Government in preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19. The Ministry of Health was present at a handover ceremony…