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July 05, 2025 – Somalia –
Somali intelligence agents from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) forcefully seized a female journalist in Mogadishu, prompting widespread condemnation from the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS).
According to the SJS, the operation involved agents breaking into the journalist’s residence, physically assaulting her, and arresting her under the directive of “ordering her to participate in voter registration.” She was reportedly taken to a NISA facility and compelled to register as a voter—an apparent misuse of state power for political ends .
The SJS strongly denounced the incident as a blatant act of intimidation against independent media, warning it sets a dangerous precedent for freedom of expression. They labeled the assault “unlawful and unacceptable” and have demanded her immediate release, as well as assurances for the safety and protection of journalists across Somalia.
Sources in Mogadishu noted that this is part of a broader pattern of pressure tactics by intelligence services against media workers. The motive appears linked to silencing critical reporting, particularly concerning Somalia’s fraught political climate surrounding upcoming elections and concerns about democratic erosion.
Although the journalist’s identity has not been publicly disclosed, it is believed she works with a prominent independent media outlet in Mogadishu. The spokesperson for the journalist’s organization corroborated that she was seized without a court warrant and was coerced into participation in the registration process under duress.
The incident has sparked both national and international outrage, with media associations calling for an independent inquiry into NISA’s actions and for the Somali federal government to reaffirm its commitment to press freedom.
This development underlines growing concerns about state overreach in Somalia’s security apparatus. Media watchdogs argue that intelligence services must not be leveraged to interfere with journalistic integrity or suppress dissent, especially in an environment where open media is crucial to democratic processes.
In summary, the SJS has called for immediate remedial steps, including the journalist’s release, accountability for the operatives involved, and structural reforms to protect media freedom against arbitrary detention and forced political manipulation.
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