Somali Police Raid Risaala Media, Arrest Five Journalists Following Bombing Coverage

March 18, 2025 – Somalia – 

Somali police raided the offices of Risaala Media Corporation in Mogadishu, arresting five journalists and shutting down the station’s operations. The action followed Risaala Media’s reporting on a bombing attack targeting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy near the presidential palace, an incident claimed by Al-Shabaab. The explosion resulted in multiple casualties, including journalist Mohamed Abukar Dabaashe, who had previously worked for Risaala.

The detained journalists—Ali Ibrahim Abdullahi Suheyfa (reporter), Hamda Hassan Ahmed (reporter), Mohamed Said Nur (cameraman), Liban Abdullahi Hussein (radio technician), and Abdalla Sharif Ali (cameraman)—were taken to Hamar Jajab police station for interrogation regarding their coverage of the attack. The raid was conducted without a court warrant and was reportedly ordered by Banadir Regional Police Commissioner Mahdi Omar Mumin, also known as Moalim Mahdi. Both Mahdi and the raid’s commander, Abdi Ali, are former Al-Shabaab defectors now serving in the Somali police.

The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) condemned the arrests and the shutdown of Risaala Media, calling for the immediate release of the journalists and the resumption of the station’s operations. They emphasized the importance of press freedom and the role of independent media in informing the public, especially during times of crisis.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of media suppression in Somalia. On March 19, 2025, Somali police detained 19 journalists from various media outlets who were reporting on the same bombing attack. These actions have raised concerns among international press freedom organizations about the safety of journalists and the state of media freedom in the country.

The targeting of Risaala Media and its journalists underscores the challenges faced by the press in Somalia, where reporting on security issues can lead to intimidation, arrest, and even death. Advocates for press freedom continue to call on Somali authorities to uphold the rights of journalists and ensure a safe environment for independent reporting.