MOGADISHU — The management of Goobjoog Media Group has strongly condemned the arrest of one of its journalists, Rowda Hassan Taakilo, describing the incident as an unlawful detention carried out by Somali security forces.
In a statement issued late Wednesday, the independent media organization accused government forces of abducting the journalist as she was returning to her home in Mogadishu.
“The management of Goobjoog Media Group strongly and unequivocally condemns the abduction and illegal arrest carried out last night by government forces against our journalist, Rowda Hassan Taakilo, while she was on her way home,” the statement said.
The group said the arrest reflects what it described as a growing pattern of repression targeting journalists and independent media workers in the Somali capital.
“This arrest demonstrates the increasing suppression of the press and the erosion of freedoms for investigative journalists operating in Mogadishu,” it added.
Goobjoog Media Group called on the Federal Government of Somalia and security agencies to immediately release the journalist without conditions and to respect press freedom and the independence of the media.
“We call on the Federal Government of Somalia and all security institutions to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Rowda Hassan Taakilo and to uphold the principles of media freedom and the laws of the country,” the statement said.
There was no immediate comment from Somali authorities regarding the arrest.
Media rights advocates say the detention is part of a broader pattern of pressure faced by journalists in recent months, with reports of arrests, intimidation, and alleged abductions by security forces.
A local journalist, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, said the incident had heightened fear among media workers.
“Many journalists are now worried about their safety. Arrests like this create a chilling effect on our work,” the journalist said.
Somalia has long faced criticism from international rights organizations over restrictions on press freedom, with journalists frequently operating in a challenging and sometimes dangerous environment.
The circumstances surrounding Taakilo’s arrest remain unclear, and it is not known whether she has been granted access to legal representation or contact with her family.
