Two journalists arrested for reporting on security-related issues in Mogadishu and Qardho

Mogadishu (SJS)– The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is deeply concerned by the recent arrests of two journalists in Mogadishu and Qardho, Puntland, respectively, solely for carrying out their professional duties after reporting on security-related issues and a police officer’s complaint. These arrests come amid a growing pattern of attempts to silence independent reporting on matters of significant public interest.

On Friday, 26 June 2026, four armed Somali police officers arrested journalist Mohamed Ali Mohamud, known as Qadaaye, a local reporter for the online platform Iftiimiye TV in Mogadishu, after he reported on a police officer who complained that his “salary had been cut by senior officers”.

Qadaaye told SJS that he was arrested near his residence in Kaaraan district and taken to Kaaraan Police Station. He said he was beaten during his arrest and again while in detention. On Saturday, when his mother and other family members visited the station, they were denied access to see him. Qadaaye told SJS that, prior to his arrest, he had received threats from police officers who warned him to stop reporting on the complaints of the police officer whose salary had been suspended.

On 15 June 2026, Qadaaye told SJS that he had interviewed a Somali police officer who said his salary had been unjustly suspended and his position taken over by another officer. As a result, he had begun “working as a construction labourer” to provide food for his wife and two daughters. The officer said he belongs to the minority Bantu community. Days later, the officer was “ arrested alongside his daughters “. The officer’s wife also gave an interview to Iftiimiye TV in which she spoke about the arrests of her husband and daughters, although they were subsequently released.