Mr. Mohamed Abduwahab Abdullahi, Secretary-General of SOMA, participated in the meeting and delivered a statement highlighting the escalating threats facing Somali journalists and independent media outlets.

Press Freedom Under Threat

In his remarks, Mr. Abduwahab outlined the worsening media environment in Somalia. Over the past year alone, more than 100 journalists have been arbitrarily arrested, while several media outlets have been forcibly shut down. Reporters covering public concerns are routinely targeted by plainclothes security agents, detained in unofficial locations, and pressured to remain silent — clear violations of press freedom and the constitutional right to information.

Concerns Over Institutional Legitimacy

Mr. Abduwahab also raised alarm over the lack of inclusivity in the formation of the National Media Council and the ongoing process to establish the National Human Rights Commission. Both bodies, he noted, lack transparency and legitimacy due to the exclusion of key civil society and media stakeholders.

"The Media Council remains a symbolic structure with no real mandate or accountability,” he said. "Similarly, the process of forming the Human Rights Commission appears theatrical rather than credible, posing further risks to the civic space.”

Call for EU Support and Oversight

SOMA urges the European Union to support concrete reforms that ensure oversight institutions in Somalia are inclusive, transparent, and effective. Key recommendations include:

"SOMA values the EU’s continued engagement and calls for stronger support to safeguard the role of independent media in Somalia’s democratic transition,” Mr. Abduwahab concluded.

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Source: Somali Media Association (SOMA)