MOGADISHU – Safe Reporters of Somalia (SRS) expresses deep concern over the continued arrests of journalists in Mogadishu, where media professionals are being detained while carrying out their legitimate duty of informing the Somali public.
Somali government security forces have arrested Mohamed Ali Qadaye, a journalist with Iftiimiye TV, in Mogadishu’s Karan district.
Journalist Qadaye has now been held for more than 24 hours without clear legal justification. His detention means that, in less than a week, two journalists carrying out their professional responsibilities have been imprisoned.
“The media community was already deeply concerned by the arrest of Abdulkadir Abukar Ali (Dirshe) of Somali Stream. The detention of Mohamed Ali Qadaye of Iftiimiye TV has further intensified concerns and represents another serious setback for press freedom in Somalia.”— Safe Reporters of Somalia (SRS)
SRS calls for the immediate and unconditional release of both journalists and urges the Somali authorities to uphold their constitutional and international obligations to protect press freedom. The organization further calls on the government to ensure that journalists can carry out their work without fear of intimidation, arbitrary arrest, or harassment, recognizing that a free and independent media is an essential pillar of democratic governance, transparency, and accountability.
