Mogadishu, Somalia – Two Somali journalists were detained in Mogadishu on Sunday, sparking a wave of criticism from political heavyweights and media freedom advocates who say the government is sliding back into repression.
Adan Mohamed Adam and Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim were taken into custody by security forces under undisclosed circumstances. As of Tuesday evening, authorities had yet to provide any justification for their arrest or reveal their whereabouts, raising fears among colleagues and family members.
Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire condemned the detentions in unusually sharp terms. In separate statements, both leaders accused the government of using state power to intimidate the press.
“This is a calculated assault on free speech,” Sharif said, warning that such tactics undermine public trust. Khaire echoed the sentiment, alleging the journalists were being punished for exposing “illegal land grabs and forced evictions” reportedly carried out with government complicity.
The arrests come at a time when Mogadishu is undergoing rapid urban expansion, with growing reports of residents being evicted without due process to pave the way for private developments. Activists say journalists covering these incidents have faced mounting pressure.
Colleagues of the detained reporters called for their immediate release, insisting that journalism is not a crime.
“Silencing the media will not erase the truth,” one fellow broadcaster said outside a Mogadishu newsroom, declining to be named for fear of reprisal.
Neither the Ministry of Information nor the police have issued a response, deepening concerns that the detentions were politically motivated.
As Somalia prepares for key political milestones ahead, observers warn that how the government handles this case will signal whether the country intends to protect civil liberties—or suppress them.