Press Freedom

U.S. announces new support for Somalia

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) During her June 13 visit to Mogadishu, Somalia, Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to offer U.S. support for his security, reconciliation, and reform agenda.

SJS trains 25 journalists in Somalia's Galmudug on human rights reporting

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) has completed a human rights reporting training in Adado, Galmudug State, benefiting 25 local journalists from local independent media outlets including those from marginalised stations and women reporters.

Joint Statement by the Somali Independent Journalists Unions and Media Houses on the State of F.O.E and Human Rights in Somalia

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Today, 4 June 2022, the Somali independent journalists' organizations/unions and the independent media houses associations held a consultative meeting in Mogadishu focusing on the latest developments in the country on the aftermath of May 15th presidential election and…

As Somalia's new president tours Southwest state, its police attack local radio, beat and detain journalists

HORNOBSERVER— Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) strongly condemn the violent attack by the Southwest state police on Radio Barawe, a local minority community rights radio in Barawe on Wednesday night.

Somali journalists benefit from a UK-supported security training in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali journalists have received a UK-supported training to equip them with safety skills amid a violence against media freedom in Somalia.

SJS secretary-general addresses Exile Media Forum in Hamburg, Germany

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) The Exile Media Forum, which is the largest specialist conference on exile journalism, has been held in Hamburg, Germany from 16 – 17 May 2022.

Somali journalists condemn killing of Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) today joined a silent protest to condemn the brutal killing of Al-Jazeera Arabic journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, shot dead by Israeli forces during as assignment in Jenin town in the West Bank.

Allow independent journalists to have uncensored access to presidential election scheduled on 15th May

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) express great concern on the announcement by the Parliamentary Committee on Presidential Election, on Monday 9 May, which imposes restrictions on the independent journalists' access to the presidential…

On WPFD, SJS and SOMA call for respect of media freedom and protection of journalists

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) On World Press Freedom Day, Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) jointly call authorities in Somaliland to release three detained journalists in Hargeisa as we call for authorities in other regions of Somalia to respect of press freedom…

Somaliland releases journalist from incommunicado detention, holds three others in jail

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) welcome the release of freelance journalist, Abdisalan Ahmed Awad who was held incommunicado since 3 April, 2022 as we express concern the decision to hold three other journalists at the central prison.

In an attempt to impede independent coverage, Somaliland jails 16 journalists reporting prison shooting in Hargeisa

MOGADISHU (HORNOBSERVER) Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) condemn in the strongest terms possible the mass arrest of 16 journalists reporting on the prison shooting in Hargeisa by Somaliland police on Wednesday 13 April.

Somaliland: A local journalist held incommunicado in Hargeisa, another sentenced to a year in jail

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) are concerned about the detention of freelance journalist, Abdisalan Ahmed Awad, who is held in undisclosed location by Somaliland intelligence service since 3 April 2022, and the sentence of a year…

Somaliland: Two journalists survive attack in Hargeisa, TV reporter detained in Borame

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) strongly condemn and express their concern about the violent attack and the detention against independent journalists in Somaliland.

Somalia presidential official suspended over allegations of serious human rights abuses including sexual harassment – Sources

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) The Deputy Chief of Staff of Somalia's presidency, Villa Somalia, has been suspended on charges of serious abuse and sexual harassment of women staffers and threats to journalists, two presidential sources told Horn Observer.

Repressed and Threatened: Journalists blocked from covering elections across Somalia

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) condemn the restrictions and blocking of independent media and journalists seeking to observe and report on the process of the indirect elections in Somalia; and express serious concern at the repression…

Journalists in five Somalia regions benefit from Canada-supported media freedom and safety trainings

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) has concluded the fourth round of a series of trainings to improve the safety and security of Somali journalists and media freedom with the support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) in Baidoa, South West State Somalia.

Turkish-trained Somali police attack independent journalists covering al-Shabaab attack in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and Somali Media Association (SOMA) deplore the brutal attack of the Turkish-trained Haramcad police force against journalists covering militants attack in Mogadishu on Wednesday 16 February 2022.

UK, German equipped and trained Somali police officers raid local radio station, detain seven journalists

MOGADISHU, Somalia 22 January 2022 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and its partner the Somali Media Association (SOMA) condemn the raid and closure on the local independent radio in Beledweyne and detention of its seven journalists by Hirshabelle police in Beledweyne on Friday 21 January 2022…

State of Press Freedom in Somalia 2021: Silencing Journalists through Targeted Attacks, Restrictions and Censorship Amid Precarious Working Conditions

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 10 January, 2022 – Somali journalists were once again subjected to violence and deliberate attacks by the security forces of the federal government, regional states and the militant group al-Shabaab. Covering insecurity, the continued deadlock in federal elections and the reports…

Somalia: Sool Governor orders detention of three journalists in Lasanod, Jubbaland security threatens journalists covering election

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 31 December 2021 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) condemns the detention of three journalists in Lasanod town and calls on Somaliland authorities to free them unconditionally, while SJS also calls on Jubbaland security officials to stop threats and intimidations against journalists…