MOGADISHU – In a concerning escalation of government repression, three journalists, including Mohamed Bulbul of the Guardian, were detained and reportedly assaulted by Somali counter-terrorism police in Mogadishu on Friday. The arrests come as public anger simmers over systemic issues like forced displacement and land grabbing, and just days before the end of the presidential term, suggesting a desperate attempt to silence dissenting voices.

The journalists, Mohamed Bulbul, Abdihafid Nor Barre, and Abdishakur Mohamed Mohamud, were apprehended at a restaurant in Mogadishu. Their subsequent treatment, allegedly involving beatings by members of Somalia's US-trained counter-terrorism unit, points to a deeply troubling disregard for human rights and the fundamental principles of a free press. The fact that Bulbul was targeted for his reporting on the case of Sadia Moalim Ali, a young rickshaw driver imprisoned for peaceful protest and subjected to alleged torture, underscores the administration's efforts to suppress information about its human rights abuses.

Sadia Moalim Ali's case, detailed in Bulbul's Guardian report, paints a harrowing picture of the conditions faced by political prisoners in Somalia. Her account of being stripped naked, beaten, and denied food in Mogadishu central prison demands immediate investigation and accountability. The wide dissemination of Bulbul's article across Somali media platforms demonstrates the public's hunger for truth and justice, a hunger the government appears determined to suppress.

Abdirahman Abdishakur, an MP and leader of the opposition Wadajir party, rightly condemned the arrests as politically motivated, arguing that the administration is prioritizing repression over addressing the root causes of public discontent. His words highlight the urgent need for an inclusive political settlement that prioritizes human rights and addresses the grievances of marginalized communities. The crackdown on journalists, activists, and young people is not only a violation of their fundamental freedoms but also a threat to the stability of the country.

The threats reportedly made by Mogadishu police chief Mahdi Omar Mumin, suggesting that the journalists would face “death” if they continued their reporting, are particularly chilling. These threats, as reported by the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), represent a direct assault on the freedom of the press and must be investigated and condemned in the strongest possible terms. The international community must hold the Somali government accountable for protecting journalists and upholding their right to report freely.