MOGADISHU, Somalia (SMN) — Police in the Hamarweyne district of Mogadishu have detained Abukar Sheikh Mahmud, the Director-General of Shabelle Media Network, a prominent independent media outlet based in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. The Network’s CEO was arrested after being summoned to the local police station, adding to growing concerns about the safety of journalists in the country.
The arrest came shortly after the detention of Mohamud Abdinasir Soofeysane, the Deputy Director of Shabelle, who was taken into custody following an interrogation by police in the same district. Both men are key figures at Shabelle, a leading media network founded in 2002 that has been recognized for its independent journalism amid Somalia’s complex and often volatile media environment.
Shabelle Media Network management has strongly condemned the arrests, calling them a direct attack on press freedom. In a statement, the network demanded the immediate and unconditional release of both Mahmud and Soofeysane, urging authorities to respect the rights of journalists and to stop intimidating the press. “This is not just an attack on two individuals, but on the entire media community in Somalia,” the statement read.
Somalia has long been one of the most dangerous countries for journalists. Reporters face risks ranging from harassment, arbitrary arrest, and threats to violent attacks, including killings. The media watchdogs have repeatedly highlighted Somalia’s dangerous media landscape, where journalists often face both government repression and threats from militant groups such as Al-Shabaab. In recent years, several journalists have been killed, and many others have been detained or forced into hiding.
The risk to journalists is especially high for those who report on sensitive topics such as corruption, security, and the activities of extremist groups. Despite these risks, independent media outlets like Shabelle continue to play a crucial role in providing information in a country where the flow of accurate and independent news is often restricted.
The arrest of Abukar Sheikh Mohamud and Mohamud Abdinasir Soofeysane highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Somali journalists in their efforts to report freely and without fear of reprisal. Human rights organizations have called on the Somali government to ensure that journalists can carry out their work safely and without intimidation.
Shabelle Media Network, which has a reputation for its independent coverage of Somali politics and social issues, remains one of the few outlets providing an alternative voice in a media landscape that is often dominated by political and militant interests.
As the arrests of Abukar Sheikh Mohamud and Mohamud Abdinasir Soofeysane spark outrage within the Somali media community, there are calls for greater international support to safeguard press freedom in Somalia.
