Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS

Independent #PressFreedom & Union of Journalists in #Somalia | Winner of Human Rights Tulip Award 2025 | Member IPI, CRN | Tel: 857551 E. [email protected]

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀

The year 2025 was marked by a continued deterioration of media freedom and the safety of journalists in Somalia, with reporters and media workers operating in an increasingly precarious and chilling environment. Documentation by the Somali Journalists Syndicate @sjs_Somalia shows that attacks against journalists and media outlets intensified throughout the year, illustrating a pattern of systematic repression and growing hostility toward independent reporting.

https://t.co/OAA7UvgbvU

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

🔴 SOMALIA: Himilo Media journalist Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim freed by NISA after nine days of incommunicado detention

The Somali Journalists Syndicate @sjs_Somalia welcomes the release of journalist Khadar Abdirahim Ibrahim of Himilo Media, who was abducted by the National Intelligence and Security Agency @HSNQ_NISA on Sunday, 11 October 2026, in Mogadishu, Somalia.

On Monday, 19 October, Khadar was released after nine days of incommunicado detention at the notorious underground torture and interrogation facility known as Godka Jila’ow, where he had been held since his abduction. Khadar told SJS that he became ill while being held at the underground torture facility run by NISA.

While SJS welcomes Khadar’s release, it remains particularly concerned about the threats and abuses he endured during his detention. Even after his release, he no longer feels safe continuing his work, reflecting the broader climate of fear facing journalists in Mogadishu.

READ FULL REPORT HERE:
https://t.co/u64eiJf2RN

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

🚨Wasaaradda Warfaafinta Soomaaliya waa in ay joojisaa hanjabaadaha ay u jeedinayso saxafiyiinta ka warramaya colaadda ka taagan Koonfur Galbeed.

Somali Journalists Syndicate - @sjs_Somalia waxay sidoo kale ugu baaqaysaa Wasaaradda inay ka laabato war saxaafadeedkeeda SHARCI DARRADA AH ee 19 Oktoobar.

AKHRI: War saxaafadeedka SJS oo soo koobaya sharci darrooyinka ka buuxay war saxaafadeedkii 19 Oktoobar 2026 ee Wasaaradda Warfaafinta.

https://t.co/V0PEWiPuFH

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

READ FULL PRESS RELEASE

https://t.co/OjncaQONtX

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

“The Somalia Ministry of Information @MOISOMALIA has a record of issuing draconian directives that restrict media freedom. This is not the first time we have witnessed such measures. We have seen several similar directives in the past, including one issued in October 2022,” said @sjs_Somalia Secretary General, @Cabdalleaxmed. “SJS has consistently rejected, and will continue to reject, the criminalisation of independent journalism simply because media reporting is unfavourable to the government or inconsistent with its official narrative.”

“We call on the Ministry of Information to stop threatening journalists covering the conflict in Southwest State and to withdraw its unlawful statement of 19 October. We also call on the security forces, including the National Intelligence and Security Agency @HSNQ_NISA , the police, and other security agencies, to refrain from arbitrarily arresting, threatening, harassing, or prosecuting journalists for carrying out their lawful professional duties,” Mr. Mumin added.

SJS calls on the Federal Government to:

• Withdraw the unlawful 19 October 2026 statement by the Ministry of Information and refrain from issuing directives that threaten or intimidate journalists covering the conflict in Southwest State.

• Allow the independence of media organisations and journalists, including their right to interview sources, investigate allegations, question official accounts, and report on matters of public interest without political interference.

• Guarantee journalists’ safety and ensure that threats, attacks, intimidation, and unlawful restrictions are investigated promptly, independently, and impartially.

• Respect constitutional protections for freedom of expression and access to information, ensuring that counterterrorism measures are not used to suppress legitimate journalism reporting on the conflict in the Southwest State.

• Uphold Somalia’s international human rights obligations, including Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

SJS reiterates that independent journalism is not a crime. Journalists must be able to report on conflicts, scrutinise those in power, investigate allegations of human rights violations and abuses allegedly committed by various sides, and provide the public with accurate and impartial information without fear of retaliation.

The warning by the Ministry of Information comes amid persistent concerns about arbitrary arrests, threats, harassment, restrictions on access to information, and legal pressure against journalists in Southwest State.

Since the beginning of 2026, journalists in Southwest State have faced increased violence, threats, and attacks linked to their work. Local journalist Bashir Mohamed Abdullahi was killed in Baidoa in early September 2026, while four journalists were arrested for reporting on issues that local authorities reportedly disliked. SJS has also recently documented five reporters who were forced to leave the region as threats mounted, while eight others remain in hiding for fear of reprisals.

SJS has further documented an increase in cases in which journalists’ social media accounts were blocked or restricted, or their content was deleted following reports on the conflict in Southwest State.

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

PRESS RELEASE: Somalia’s Ministry of Information must stop threatening journalists reporting on the conflict in Southwest State

MOGADISHU, Somalia 21 October 2026 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate @sjs_Somalia expresses grave concern and strongly condemns the press statement issued by Somalia’s @MOISOMALIA on 19 October 2026 concerning the conflict in Southwest State. The statement warned “media organisations, websites, and social media account administrators against disseminating” what the government describes as “terrorist propaganda”.

SJS is particularly alarmed by the statement’s threat that “Anyone found to have deliberately used a media outlet or social media account to participate in or facilitate the criminal activities described above will face legal action in accordance with the law.”

Such a statement is dangerous and risks further censorship, fear, and a loss of impartiality in media reporting at a time when Somalia is grappling with a multilayered political, security, and humanitarian crisis.

SJS reminds the Federal Government of Somalia’s Ministry of Information that Article 18 of Somalia’s Provisional Federal Constitution (2012) guarantees freedom of expression, including freedom of speech and the media. Article 32 protects the right of access to information, while Article 3 establishes the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law.

These constitutional guarantees are not privileges that government officials may suspend at their discretion. They are fundamental protections that must guide the conduct of every public institution, including the Ministry of Information and the Somali security agencies.

https://t.co/V1e1K7qx0U

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

. @sjs_Somalia stresses that any restriction on media activity must first comply with Somalia’s Constitution and its international human rights obligations. Under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), restrictions on freedom of expression must be provided by law and meet the requirements of a legitimate purpose, necessity, and proportionality.

SJS emphasises that reporting on the conflict in Southwest State and the armed groups involved does not constitute an endorsement of any party. Quoting rival political figures or armed actors does not mean supporting their agendas or narratives. Journalists have the right to investigate claims made by all sides, verify information, scrutinise official accounts, and report independently in the public interest.

SJS urges all journalists to continue exercising their professional responsibilities without fear or favour. The freedom to verify claims, investigate allegations, scrutinise government conduct both at federal and state level, and report on matters of public interest is fundamental to genuine independent journalism.

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

READ FULL REPORT HERE:
https://t.co/CSvmT2VAmg

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

🚨AI-altered photo falsely claims Al-Shabaab leader appeared among fighters seen in Diinsoor, Southwest, Somalia, during capture by pro-Laftagareen’s forces:

On Sunday, 18 October 2026, an AI-altered photo was widely circulated by some Somali media outlets, journalists, and numerous social media influencers in Somalia and beyond, claiming that “senior Al-Shabaab leader Hassan Yaqub Ali has reportedly appeared” among the fighters who seized Diinsoor town in the Bay region of Somalia’s Southwest State on 16 October, following an offensive by pro-Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed “Laftagareen” forces.

Some news sites and social media accounts went further, claiming that the conflict across Southwest State “was part of a foreign-funded campaign” allegedly “facilitated by Ethiopia and Kenya”.

These posts and the AI-altered photo garnered thousands of views across various platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. The images were also shared by accounts supportive of Aden Mohamed Nur (Aden Madobe) and the Somali Federal Government.

The Somali Journalists Syndicate @sjs_Somalia was alerted to the images by local journalists and ordinary citizens, prompting @sjs_Somalia to investigate them using open-source methods.

@sjs_Somalia found that the images used to support the claims were AI-altered versions of original photographs published by Al Jazeera English in 2016. In the original photographs, Al-Shabaab leader Hassan Yaqub Ali was seen standing to the left of the group’s spokesperson, Ali Mohamud Raage. However, in the AI-altered version, the two men wearing black turbans had been re-positioned, and their faces had been brightened, revealing the sloppy use of AI.

The original @AJEnglish photographs were taken in central Somalia in November 2016.

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

. @sjs_Somalia also appeals to local and international organisations, humanitarian agencies, and other relevant partners to closely monitor the situation, support, where possible, journalists and their families who have been displaced, and provide emergency assistance. Such support should include safe relocation, temporary accommodation, and other essential assistance for journalists forced to abandon their homes and livelihoods because of the conflict.

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

. @sjs_Somalia calls on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease all threats, intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and other forms of harassment against journalists and media workers. All parties must respect press freedom, protect journalists from harm, and ensure that media professionals can carry out their work without fear of retaliation for their reporting, commentary, or criticism.

“Today, we appeal to all parties to the conflict in Southwest State, Somalia, to recognise that they have a primary responsibility to protect civilians, including journalists who are under threat. Harming unarmed civilians, including journalists, is a serious violation that must be investigated. Journalists must not be targeted, detained, or punished for exercising their legitimate right to report on matters of public interest,” said @sjs_Somalia Secretary General @Cabdalleaxmed.

“We also demand that all parties take concrete measures to guarantee the safety and protection of media workers and end the violence immediately,” Mr. Mumin added.

FULL REPORT ON THREATS AGAINST JOURNALISTS IN SOUTHWEST STATE:
https://t.co/oE1TCS2oGR

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

. @sjs_Somalia calls on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease all threats, intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and other forms of harassment against journalists and media workers. All parties must respect press freedom, protect journalists from harm, and ensure that media professionals can carry out their work without fear of retaliation for their reporting, commentary, or criticism.

FULL REPORT:
https://t.co/oE1TCS2oGR

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

🚨On 9 October, intelligence officers aligned with Adan Madoobe and operating under the Southwest State branch of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) arrested Abdiladhiif Mohamed Abdi, a journalist with Southwest State TV, after he published a post on Facebook accusing the Southwest State Minister of Internal Security of “misappropriating funds allocated to local forces in Qansax Dheere”.

🚨On 8 October, NISA officers in Baidoa arrested local artist Ayuub Abdiqadir Hassan, known as “Dayax Baydhabo”, allegedly for riding his motorcycle at night. After being released the following day, he recorded a video in which he reportedly criticised Federal Government forces in Baidoa, referring to them as “salballaar” — a term commonly used by the pro-Laftagareen side to describe the Adan Madoobe-aligned group — and accused them of “causing harm to the local community.”

He was arrested again and forced to delete the video. On 13 October, he posted a video on TikTok in which he appeared to apologise, with his head shaved.

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

Journalists who could not afford to flee have begun sheltering in various locations in Baidoa and Berdaale.

READ FULL REPORT:
https://t.co/tqr0qSi9KX

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

🚨Threats, arbitrary arrests and displacement of journalists in Southwest State amid escalating conflict

he Somali Journalists Syndicate @sjs_Somalia expresses concern over the threats, arrests, and intimidation targeting journalists operating in Southwest State, Somalia, many of whom, along with their families, are now fleeing the region due to the deteriorating security situation.

Since late August 2026, @sjs_Somalia has documented five journalists — two women and three men — who were forced to flee, while eight others remain in hiding following threats to their lives as the conflict between forces loyal to Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen and those loyal to Adan Mohamed Nur (Adan Madoobe) and the Federal Government continued to cause death and destruction. Bashir Mohamed Abdullahi, also known as Bashir Moalin, a reporter with the local Arlaadi Media Network, died in Baidoa after being injured during armed clashes on 3 September 2026.

[Kaab TV @KaabTV]

AI-Altered Photo Falsely Places Senior Al-Shabaab Leader in Diinsoor

On Sunday, 18 October 2026, an AI-altered photograph circulated widely across Somali news outlets, social media influencers, and online platforms, falsely claiming that senior Al-Shabaab leader Hassan Yaqub Ali appeared alongside fighters who seized Diinsoor town in the Bay region of Southwest State on 16 October following an offensive by pro-Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed “Laftagareen” forces.

https://t.co/ZZ5ey6f9Dj

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

🚨 The Somali Journalists Syndicate @sjs_Somalia is aware of a threatening statement issued today by the Ministry of Information of Somalia’s of the government whose term ended in May 2026.

The statement by @MOISOMALIA threatens independent media and intimidates Somali journalists who report on issues of significant importance to Somali society including the conflict in Southwest State.

@sjs_Somalia is working with local journalists and media stations and will issue an official statement outlining the illegality of the such statement, which lacks a legal basis, and the endangers the safety of journalists including @sjs_Somalia members.

We call on independent media to never stop from reporting the truth and fulfilling their journalistic duties.
@AmnestyEARO @CPJAfrica @globalfreemedia @Kennedy_HRC @IndexCensorship @EU_in_Somalia @UKinSomalia @US2SOMALIA @UNTMIS_

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

🔴The altered image was also placed against a background featuring a monument in Diinsoor, located in the centre of the town’s market. The monument image was taken from a video clip posted on social media on 16 October, the same day media reported that pro-Laftagareen forces had captured the town.

Diinsoor is among at least four towns in Southwest State that pro-Laftagareen forces have reportedly recaptured in recent weeks.

READ FULL STATEMENT:

https://t.co/I6HB4PmW4z

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

🚨On Sunday, 18 October 2026, an AI-altered photo was widely circulated by some Somali media outlets, journalists, and numerous social media influencers in Somalia and beyond, claiming that “senior Al-Shabaab leader Hassan Yaqub Ali has reportedly appeared” among the fighters who seized Diinsoor town in the Bay region of Somalia’s Southwest State on 16 October, following an offensive by pro-Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed “Laftagareen” forces.

🔴 Some news sites and social media accounts went further, claiming that the conflict across Southwest State “was part of a foreign-funded campaign” allegedly “facilitated by Ethiopia and Kenya”.

🔴 These posts and the AI-altered photo garnered thousands of views across various platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

🔴 @sjs_Somalia was alerted to the images by local journalists and ordinary citizens, prompting SJS to investigate them using open-source methods.

🔴 @sjs_Somalia found that the images used to support the claims were AI-altered versions of original photographs published by @AJEnglish in 2016. In the original photographs, Al-Shabaab leader Hassan Yaqub Ali was seen standing to the left of the group’s spokesperson, Ali Mohamud Raage. However, in the AI-altered version, the two men wearing black turbans had been re-positioned, and their faces had been brightened, revealing the sloppy use of AI.

The original Al Jazeera photographs were taken in central Somalia in November 2016.

At the time of Al Jazeera reporting, Hassan Yakub Ali was described as Al-Shabaab’s governor in the Galguduud region.