Mogadishu – Recent developments in Somalia have raised troubling concerns about the state of press freedom in the country, as journalists continue to face a surge in arrests, intimidation, and government-imposed restrictions, raising alarm among observers.
Local media activists and journalists report growing cases of arrests and detentions, targeting reporters without clear justification, suggesting possible political motivations behind these actions.
The arbitrary nature of the arrests, along with alarming incidents of dissent suppression, sends a chilling message to the media community and obstructs their vital role as society’s watchdogs.
Journalists speaking to Horn Examiner note that since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration came to power a year ago, pressure on journalists has intensified, stifling their ability to report the truth. Intimidation tactics, including threats, police harassment, and physical attacks on media personnel, have also become increasingly prevalent, exacerbating the climate of fear.
These acts of violence not only harm individual journalists but also undermine the public’s right to access unbiased and accurate information, media watchdogs say.
Moreover, the systematic pressure faced by journalists has raised concerns about the erosion of freedom of speech in the country.
Abdirahman Abdishakur, a close ally of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who is also the current Presidential envoy for Drought Response, has expressed concern in regards to the increasing crackdown on media freedom, noting the importance of maintaining a credible and independent press.
The growing crackdown, according to Abdishakur, is a threat to democracy, stating, “the diminishing role of civil society and the media in holding leaders accountable is a threat to our nascent democracy.”
The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), a media advocacy organization, has also raised the alarm about the deteriorating situation and particularly highlighted the case of Abdalla Mumin, the organization’s Secretary General, who was arbitrarily imprisoned for several months on trumped-up charges before being released following sustained pressure by Somalia’s International Partners.
Mr. Mumin Insisted that his arrest was orchestrated by a government minister out of personal vendetta and maintains his innocence.
The growing pressure on media workers in Somalia highlights the mounting challenges they face in their line of work.
Hussein Mohamed, a prominent online Somali news blogger, was summoned by a Mogadishu magistrate last week in response to critical reporting deemed unfavorable by local authorities.
Another journalist, Ahmed Said Ahmed, the editor of the local Kulmiye News Network also was also summoned by the Criminal Investigations Department, according to SJS as a result of a news report that that government officials have considered unfavorable.
However, In contradiction to SJS’s statement, Ahmed, despite confirming receipt of a summoning letter he alleged to have been filed by a senior government official on Monday, he has denied any threats and intimidation, contrary to the organization’s statement.
In addition, several other local journalists and their station directors have reported of receiving frequent threats from security and government officials who complain over their reporting.
As part of a state-sponsored effort to suppress independent media, the government, through its Chief Intelligence Mahad Mohamed Salad, has taken steps to recruit and offer job opportunities to directors of local media outlets. Media campaigners believe this strategy is intended to secure their silence regarding the government’s ongoing crisis and widespread corruption under the current administration.
Adding to the pressure on journalists, the government has also deported late December last year Jamal Osman, a prominent journalist from Channel4 television, back to London over suspicions by government officials that Mr. Osman intended to report on security failures and corruption within the country, causing unease among the government which seeks to control information flow and journalists’ reporting.
To tighten control over information flow, the government has also resorted to blocking social media accounts of journalists and dissenters, curbing their ability to communicate with the public and share independent perspectives on important issues.
Somalia’s government has earlier faced allegations by human rights organizations and media watchdogs of deploying online monitoring teams to target journalists and dissents, reporting them to Facebook, that resulted in the closure of their accounts and the suppression of critical media voices.
Facebook informed the individuals that their accounts violated community standards, without providing specific details. In some cases, their accounts were marked as ‘remembering’ by Facebook after the government submitted false death certificates to the social media platform.
These restrictions on digital platforms only serve to limit the already fragile space for free expression in the country, according to media activists and journalists.
Besides that, the government has also been implicated in a campaign to silence journalists through bribery, offering financial incentives to journalists and media houses, in what journalists characterized as an attempt by authorities to manipulate narratives and ensure favorable coverage.
“Such actions further curtail freedom of expression, hindering the public’s access to diverse viewpoints,” warned Mohamed, a reporter at a local television station.
This tactic is part of a broader strategy to suppress dissent and manipulate public opinion, eroding the existence of a free and independent press, which is vital for a thriving democracy, transparency, accountability, and the protection of human rights, media advocates said.
“It is crucial that the Somali government recognizes the importance of press freedom and takes immediate steps to address the growing restrictions, protect journalists, and uphold the right to free expression.” says a local media activist, who requested anonymity due to fear of reprisals over the media stifling campaign.
Journalists continue to encounter immense challenges in their pursuit of truth and the dissemination of unbiased information to the Somali people. These recent events paint a bleak picture of media freedom in Somalia, where journalists who are instrumental in exposing corruption and human rights abuses, face growing threats to their safety and professional integrity.
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