MOGADISHU — Somali security forces have detained at least three journalists in Mogadishu, sparking renewed concerns over press freedom and the safety of media workers in the Horn of Africa nation, according to colleagues and rights advocates on Friday.
The journalists — Abdihafid Nur, Abdishakur Mohamed and Mohamed Bulbul — were arrested late Thursday night, sources familiar with the situation told AFP. All three are reported to work with local and international media outlets.
Authorities have not yet issued an official statement explaining the reasons for the arrests, and it remains unclear where the journalists are being held or whether they have been formally charged.
Colleagues and media organizations say the detentions appear to be part of a broader pattern of pressure on independent journalism, particularly at a time of heightened political tensions in Somalia.
“This kind of action creates fear among journalists and risks undermining the role of the media in informing the public,” a local press freedom advocate, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told HAN.
Former Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire also voiced concern over the arrests, calling for respect for constitutional rights and due process.
Somalia’s federal government has in the past pledged to uphold freedom of expression, but rights groups say journalists continue to face harassment, intimidation and arbitrary detention.
“I strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest of journalists Abdihafid Nur, Abdishakur Mohamed, and Mohamed Bulbul. Their detention is an attempt to silence the media, but such actions only deepen resistance against injustice and undermine Somalia’s progress and rule of law.”
International watchdogs, including press freedom organizations, have repeatedly urged Somali authorities to respect media independence and ensure that journalists can operate without fear of reprisals.
The arrests come amid an already fragile political climate, as debates intensify over governance, security, and the country’s constitutional processes.
Somalia remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, with decades of conflict, insecurity and political instability contributing to a challenging working environment for the press.
There was no immediate response from government officials contacted by the media for comment.
