A Somali journalist claimed that Special Forces (Harmcad) soldiers beat him for covering Friday’s clashes between government and opposition.
On February 19, government deployed its troops to Mogadishu to close the roads and prevent opposition candidates from accessing Daljirka Dahson Monument, the venue of their rally.
At the time, Abdiaziz Loyal, a Somali journalist, was in the vicinity covering the clashes.
He was also broadcasting the clashes live on Facebook.
Loyal said that Harmcad soldiers approached him. They then started beating him in an effort to confiscate the footage he had of the clashes and anti-government protests.
He said the Special Forces beat him senseless.
The journalist had to be rushed to hospital for medical treatment. He claims to have spent over 4 hours in hospital receiving treatment.
Loyal says his phone was destroyed and later confiscated by the Special Forces.