Journalists in Mogadishu Face Increased Attacks and Arrests Ahead of Disputed Local Election

December 24, 2025 – Somalia – 

Journalists in Mogadishu, Somalia, are confronting a surge in attacks, detentions, and intimidation as the country approaches a disputed local election, raising alarm among local press rights groups and defenders of freedom of expression. Members of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) have warned that the escalating pressures threaten independent reporting at a critical political juncture, undermining both media freedom and public access to reliable information.

According to SJS and other media associations, reporters covering the intensifying political situation face heightened risks of harassment, detainment, and physical attacks. Several journalists have reported arrests by security personnel, episodes of verbal abuse and interference with their reporting activities, with some cases occurring in direct connection with coverage of electoral developments and political protests in the capital. Such targeting has compounded existing concerns about journalist safety in a context already marked by violence and instability.

Press freedom advocates note that threats to journalists in Somalia are not new, but have become more pronounced in 2025. Data from rights groups indicate that dozens of media workers have been arrested, assaulted, or intimidated over the past year in connection with their work, reflecting a pattern of repression that detracts from open reporting and fosters self-censorship. Attacks on journalists and interference in their work have been documented in both formal press settings and during political events, signaling persistent challenges for independent media.

Local media associations argue that the uptick in attacks coincides with growing political tensions around the disputed local election, where competing factions have clashed over process and control. Reporters attempting to cover protests and electoral announcements have found themselves in the crosshairs of both political actors and security forces, who at times view critical reporting as a threat to public order or political interests. Journalists have described an environment in which their safety is subordinated to broader security imperatives, limiting their ability to inform the public.

Civil society groups and international press freedom defenders have called on Somali authorities to ensure the protection of journalists, investigate attacks, and guarantee the right to report without fear of retaliation. They stress that safeguarding independent media is essential to credible electoral processes and democratic accountability, particularly amid election-related volatility.

Reference – 

https://hornobserver.com/articles/3566/Somalia-Journalists-in-Mogadishu-face-increased-attacks-and-arrests-ahead-of-a-disputed-local-election