MOGADISHU, Somalia — In an incident highlighting ongoing media freedoms concerns in Somalia, Abdi Ali Mohamed, responsible for police checkpoints in Mogadishu, confiscated equipment from Shabelle Media Network journalists covering the Saturday morning clashes in the Hodon district.
The conflict arose over the eviction of families from public land.
The seizure occurred when Mohamed, not in uniform, forcibly took a camera and microphone from journalist Zakariye Ahmed Muse and his cameraman Najib Farah, effectively halting their coverage.
This act of confiscation by what appeared to be an off-duty officer raises questions about the operational autonomy of the media in Somalia and the enforcement of law by authorities.
Shabelle Media Network, known for its reporting on local issues, has faced various challenges, including direct threats and violence against its journalists, making this incident part of a broader pattern of media suppression in the region.
