SJS honours four young journalists for courageous reporting
Updated
Updated · The Star Kenya · May 8
SJS honours four young journalists for courageous reporting
3 articles · Updated · The Star Kenya · May 8
At a World Press Freedom Day ceremony, the Somali media group said 18 violations against journalists were recorded since January, and reporter Abshir Khalif Shidane was killed in Kismayo in March.
SJS chief Abdalle Mumin said press freedom in Somalia and Somaliland is rapidly deteriorating, with arbitrary arrests, threats, censorship and violence, while women journalists face disproportionate abuse, including alleged attacks by state security forces.
Top prize went to Mohamed Jeilani Abukar for a report on Mogadishu's only all-women newsroom. CPJ says 86 journalists and media workers have been killed in Somalia since 1992, while 148 arbitrary arrest cases were documented last year.
As Somalia faces a UN human rights review, why is its violent crackdown on the press getting worse?
Amid rising piracy and regional war, is Somalia using the chaos as a cover to silence its journalists?
80+ Attacks on Journalists in Somalia and Somaliland: Press Freedom, Gendered Risks, and the Path Forward
Overview
On World Press Freedom Day 2026, the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) honored the remarkable courage of journalists working in Somalia’s dangerous media landscape. The SJS, recently celebrated internationally in The Hague, highlighted the inalienable nature of human rights and the ongoing risks journalists face, including at least 18 violations since January 2026 and the tragic killing of reporter Abshir Khalif Shidane. By recognizing these sacrifices, the SJS awards draw attention to the urgent need for protection and support for journalists, emphasizing the critical role they play in defending human rights and press freedom in one of the world’s most challenging environments.