Somalia: WPF Condemns Violence and Intimidation Against Journalists Covering Mogadishu Protests
Police held Nimo Muhidin at gunpoint and threatened to assault Safa Osman
Location: Somalia, Mogadishu
Date: August 19, 2024
Press workers in Somalia faced a wave of violence and intimidation as they covered protests in Mogadishu, among the women targeted are Nimo Muhidin and Safa Osman. Both were subjected to intimidation by the Somali police as they attempted to report from the scene. These actions, particularly by state actors like the police, undermine the democratic principles of transparency and accountability. Women Press Freedom strongly condemns these abuses and calls for an independent investigation into the police's actions. The Somali government must hold those responsible accountable and implement protective measures to ensure the safety and freedom of all journalists. Failure to do so only emboldens future attacks, deepening the threats to Somalia's fragile media landscape.
Between August 18-19, 2024, protests erupted in Mogadishu, triggered by the closure of the Bakaro market due to newly imposed taxes. Journalists covering the demonstrations, including Nimo Muhidin, a reporter for Somali Cable TV, and freelance journalist Safa Osman, who works for Dalsan TV, were met with harassment, detention, and violence by the Somali police.
Both journalists recounted terrifying encounters with police officers while attempting to report from the protest scene. Muhidin says that a police officer cocked his pistol and held it to her head, clearly intending to intimidate her and force her to leave the area. Osman was threatened with physical violence if she continued recording the protests.
Beyond the direct threats to Muhidin and Osman, Somali police detained seven other journalists covering the protests, including two reporters from Hirasho TV. Their equipment was confiscated, and they were released only after hours of detention, without charges. These actions demonstrate a clear message of intimidation — journalists must avoid the story or face serious consequences.
Abdalle Mumin, Secretary General of the Somalia Journalists Syndicate, called these actions a "blatant violation of press freedom and a direct threat to the safety of Somalia’s journalists." Somalia remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, with frequent threats, arbitrary arrests, and violence perpetrated by both state and non-state actors, including the federal government and the terrorist group Al Shabaab.
Unfortunately, journalists in Somalia have frequently faced harassment and obstruction from police. Earlier this year, Women Press Freedom documented the case of Amina Ibrahim, who was obstructed by Mogadishu police while covering exhumations at the School Polizia cemetery, where the Somali government plans to relocate over 50,000 bodies. In 2021, Radio Kulme reporter Fardowso Mohamud Sahal was violently attacked by police while covering a protest in Mogadishu. Her equipment was seized, and she was physically assaulted by officers.
The police harassment of Nimo Muhidin, Safa Osman, and their colleagues during the Mogadishu protests represents a severe violation of press freedom. Threatening journalists at gunpoint or with physical violence is a clear tactic to silence critical reporting and create a climate of fear. Women Press Freedom demands an immediate investigation into these incidents and urges the Somali government to hold the police officers responsible for these abuses accountable.
We stand in solidarity with the journalists affected and call on the Somali government to protect press freedom as a fundamental right.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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