Press Freedom

Authorities in Ethiopia's Somali region suspend 15 media outlets, revoke media association's license

Mogaidishu, Somalia (Horn Observer) Authorities in Ethiopia should reverse the recent suspensions of more than a dozen news outlets and let members of the press and journalist advocacy groups work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.

In a sham trial, Banadir Regional Court sentences SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Mumin to two months in jail

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) are dismayed by the Banadir Regional Court decision which sentenced SJS Secretary-General, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin to two months in jail, in his role in defending press freedom, in a sham trial that took…

Naming and shaming press freedom violators in Somalia

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) last week published its annual press freedom report which provides an insightful highlight of the disastrous effect of the October 2022 directive of the ministry of information that restricted independent media coverage on the ongoing…

Somali govt attorney describes international donors as 'western infidels' during a press freedom case hearing

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) The Banadir Regional Court on Monday concluded a series of court hearing related to a press freedom case brought by the Somali federal deputy minister of information Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adaala through the deputy attorney general's office.

#JournalismIsnotACrime: Banadir Regional Court should dismiss the case against SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Mumin

MOGADISHU, Somalia 4 February 2023 – Ahead of the scheduled hearing on Monday 6 February 2023, the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) reiterates its call to the Banadir Regional Court to dismiss the case against SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Ahmed Mumin who is also a renowned freelance journalist,…

Violations against the Press in Somalia/Somaliland continue to rise dramatically, SJS says

MOGADISHU, Somalia 28 January, 2023 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is concerned by the recent threats including judicial harassment and arbitrary detention intended to silence local journalists in Somaliland and in Mogadishu as we call authorities in Hargeisa to free two SomNews TV journalists…

Somali court postpones hearing of press freedom case as it collides 8th anniv. of journalist's attack

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) A court in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, has postponed the hearing of the press freedom case in which the secretary-general of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) Abdalle Mumin is a defendant, the court said in a short message on Wednesday.

Lawyers sue eight Somali govt officials over human rights violation

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Human rights lawyers representing Somali journalist and human rights defender Abdalle Ahmed Mumin have sued eight Somali government officials for their involvement in the detention, persecution and discrimination against Mr. Mumin, according to a new court filing seen by Horn…

Somali journalists union leader courageously exposes abuses before the court in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) The secretary-general of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) Abdalle Ahmed Mumin appeared at the Banadir Regional Court on the second hearing in a case that severely impacts media freedom and the safety of the journalists in Somalia.

Ugandan constitutional court strikes down criminalization of 'offensive communication'

NAIROBI — In response to news reports that Uganda's constitutional court on Tuesday, January 10, struck down Section 25 of the country's Computer Misuse Act, which criminalized "offensive communication," the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement welcoming…