Mohamed Bulbul and colleagues detained, beaten and threatened by Somali police
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 9
Mohamed Bulbul and colleagues detained, beaten and threatened by Somali police
9 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 9
Bulbul, Abdihafid Nor Barre and Abdishakur Mohamed Mohamud were seized at a Mogadishu restaurant on Friday and released early Saturday after questioning by a US-trained counter-terrorism unit.
The journalists said Mogadishu police chief Mahdi Omar Mumin threatened them with death if they kept reporting on planned protests and the prison abuse case of activist Sadia Moalim Ali.
Media groups and MPs called the arrests unlawful and politically motivated amid a wider crackdown before the presidential term ends on 15 May; two other journalists reportedly remain missing in detention.
With its mandate expiring, is Somalia's government silencing critics to cling to power?
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Is US security aid in Somalia creating disciplined forces or state-sponsored thugs?
Somalia’s Press Freedom Crisis: Over 50 Journalists Killed Since 2010 Amid Escalating Crackdown Ahead of 2026 Elections
Overview
As Somalia nears a critical political transition, the violent detention of three journalists by counter-terrorism police on May 8, 2026, highlights the severe risks faced by media professionals. This incident is part of a broader, politically motivated pattern of repression aimed at suppressing independent reporting. Somalia consistently ranks among the lowest globally for press freedom, with over 50 journalists killed since 2010. These actions reflect ongoing efforts by authorities to control narratives and silence dissent, making Somalia one of Africa’s most dangerous environments for journalism.