Human Rights

Somalia: Initial AFRICOM Civilian Casualty Assessment Quarterly Report

As part of the command's commitment to transparency, U.S. Africa Command is implementing a quarterly report on the status of ongoing and completed civilian casualty allegations and assessments.

An IDP samosa vendor woman among two shot dead by police enforcing curfew in Somalia capital

MOGADISHU (Horn Observer) On Friday evening, Madina Abdullahi Abdi, 19-years-old displaced woman has heard that police enforcing an extended night curfew was approaching to her area at Mogadishu's Bondhere district. She hastily wrapped up her large plate of samosa which she vendored and went indoors.…

Somalia: Places of detention overlooked during Covid-19 crisis

BAIDOA (HORN OBSERVER) Like most countries around the globe, Somalia finds itself in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of known infections has risen dramatically in the last weeks. Sweeping public restrictions have followed suit in a bid to curb the spread of the disease.

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.

Saudi Arabia, Iraq, South Sudan, and Yemen bucked a global trend with spikes in executions

LONDON (Horn Observer) Saudi Arabia executed a record number of people in 2019, despite an overall decline in executions worldwide, Amnesty International said in its 2019 global review of the death penalty published today. The Saudi authorities put 184 people to death last year, the highest number Amnesty…

A cough that kills people: Views of Somalia's displaced families on Covid-19

GAROWE (Horn Observer) For countries like Somalia, Covid-19 isn't just a health crisis, it's an economic juggernaut. Even before the outbreak gathers speed, people are feeling the pinch of inflation, widespread job losses and fear that measures to contain the spread of the virus will have an…

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…

Somalia: Goobjoog deputy director released on bail as Radio Hiigsi editor held incommunicado

MOGADISHU, Somalia, – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is relieved to learn the release on bail of Goobjoog Media Group deputy director, Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye on Saturday 18 April, 2020 and calls for the Somali government to free Radio Hiigsi editor, Mohamed Abduwahaab Nuur (also known as Abuuja)…

Amnesty Int'l calls Somaliland authorities to release imprisoned journalist Abdimalik Muse Oldon

NAIROBI - Amnesty International is calling on the Somaliland authorities to immediately and unconditionally release detained journalist Abdimalik Muse Oldon who was arrested and arbitrarily detained a year ago today for exercising his right to freedom of expression. Amnesty International is concerned…

Al-Shabaab carries out first public execution since Covid-19 hit Somalia

MOGADISHU (Horn Observer) Al-Shabaab militant group on Wednesday executed six young men over allegations of espionage in Jamame town in the southern Somalia region of Lower Jubba, the group's propaganda media and security observers confirmed.

Somalia: Young doctor shot dead in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU (Horn Observer) Gunmen have shot dead young doctor in Mogadishu on Wednesday night shortly before a government imposed night curfew takes into effect in the Horn of African country's capital.

Somalia arrests deputy director of Goobjoog Media over Covid-19 related post

MOGADISHU (Horn Observer) Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) expresses its extreme concern by the arrest of Goobjoog Media deputy director, Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye by the Somali police in Mogadishu on Tuesday 14 April, 2020 and calls for his immediate release.

Journalist covering Covid-19 briefly detained in Somalia's Jubbaland

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 14 April 2020 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) condemns the arbitrary arrest of Somali National TV journalist, Adan Mohamed Salad, in Kismayo on Monday 13 April 2020.

Somali Journalists' union Calls for Media to be Declared an Essential Service in the Fight Against COVID – 19

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has today called on the Federal Government of Somalia to classify the media as essential service and open up the operating space for the media during the impending curfew imposed on Mogadishu.

Somalia's int'l partners express solidarity in facing global pandemic of Covid-19

MOGADISHU (Horn Observer) Somalia's international partners have on Sunday expressed their solidarity with the Somali people and government at all levels in facing the global pandemic of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Somalia's Awrmale clan blames Jubbaland Interior Minister over 'ethnic cleansing'

MOGADISHU (Horn Observer) The Somalia's Awramale clan elders have alleged Jubbaland leadership on targeting their men and women in Jubbaland amid the deadly clan-based conflict that led to the deaths of dozen of civilians in the west of Kismayo.

Africa: Armed conflicts and state repression fuel cocktail of human rights violations

Protesters across sub-Saharan Africa have braved bullets and beatings to defend their rights in the face of continuing conflict and state repression, Amnesty International said today as it published its annual review of human rights in the region.

COVID-19: Authorities must protect health of detainees, staff and ultimately surrounding communities

Geneva (ICRC) – Detaining authorities around the world who have not yet taken measures to prevent and mitigate the effects of COVID-19 inside places of detention are urged to do so immediately to protect the health of detainees, staff and wider society.