MOGADISHU, April 12 (SMN) – The director and deputy of Somalia’s Shabelle Media Network were released on Saturday after their unlawful detention by police in Mogadishu, raising fresh concerns about press freedom in the Horn of Africa nation.
Abukar Sheikh Mahmoud, director general, and Mahmoud Abdinair Sofeysane, his deputy, were detained without charges in the capital’s Hamarweyne district, according to the Network. A court ordered their immediate release after finding no evidence of wrongdoing, Shabelle Media Network said.
The arrests drew sharp criticism from press freedom advocates, who called the detentions a violation of Somalia’s constitutional protections for free expression. Social media posts condemned the incident as an attack on independent journalism.
Shabelle Media Network, a leading independent outlet known for its investigative reporting, vowed to continue its work despite the incident. “We will not be intimidated,” a network statement said.
Somalia remains a dangerous environment for journalists, with media workers facing frequent harassment and arbitrary arrests. NUSOJ, an advocacy organization urged the government to protect press freedom and investigate the officials responsible for the detentions.
