On Saturday, Somali security forces detained Abukar Sky, Director of Shabelle Media Network, and his deputy, Mohamud Abdirashid Sofeysane, following the broadcast of an interview with an opposition figure who criticized the federal government’s direct election proposal and its security strategy against Al-Shabaab militants.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of media suppression in Somalia.
For instance, in March 2025, Somali police arrested 19 journalists reporting on an Al-Shabaab attack on the president’s convoy, following a government ban on coverage of such threats.
These actions have drawn criticism from media rights organizations, which argue that such measures undermine press freedom and the public’s right to information. The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) has condemned these arrests and called for the immediate release of detained journalists.
This ongoing crackdown on the media raises concerns about the state of press freedom in Somalia and the challenges journalists face in reporting on critical issues affecting the nation.