Mogadishu, Somalia – Former Somali President and current federal lawmaker Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has issued a scathing rebuke of the federal government, accusing it of escalating attacks on press freedom.
His comments came in response to the arrest of six journalists on Saturday in Mogadishu. The reporters were covering public reactions to recent political activities by opposition groups.
“The government is increasingly criminalizing journalists and public expression,” said Sharif, warning that such actions undermine democratic values and risk deepening public mistrust.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that federal detectives have been deployed across the capital. Critics view this move as part of a broader campaign to suppress dissent and intimidate both journalists and citizens.
Press freedom advocates and opposition leaders have called for the immediate release of the detained journalists and an end to what they describe as an “ongoing media clampdown.”