Somalia: Government Violated Media Law it Previously Endorsed, Undermining Press Freedom – FESOJ Annual Report May, 2023-May, 2024
From May 2023 to May 2024, the FESOJ office recorded 28 cases of violations against Somali journalists. These included three incidents of killings, with one targeting a journalist in Abudwaq District, Galmudug, another in a suicide bombing in Mogadishu, and the third due to long-term injuries caused by a bomb attached to a journalist’s car years ago.
Furthermore, 20 journalists were detained, 1 journalist tortured, 1 kidnapped,1 journalist fled his area due to threats, and 1 radio, 1 tv station was attacked and closed.
These repeated violations demonstrate an ongoing concern for press freedom in Somalia. Journalists continue to be arrested for short periods without justification, only to be released later. Such detentions have become commonplace, even as the courts remain operational. All these challenges are aimed at threatening and silencing journalists and the media, compelling them to accept the status quo.
The media organizations and associations in Somalia are alarmed by the federal and regional government’s failure to respect the country’s constitution and the media law, which are meant to guarantee the rights of the press and freedom of expression.
SEE THE FULL ANNUAL REPORT
