Human rights organizations have strongly condemned the unlawful detention, intimidation, and harassment of eleven Somali journalists by officers of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in Mogadishu on Saturday.
Among the groups voicing concern are the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), both of which have called for the immediate and unconditional release of the journalists and for accountability for those responsible.
The operation, carried out by both uniformed and plainclothes agents, took place in broad daylight across several locations in the Somali capital. Following their arrest, the journalists were handed over to NISA officers, who subsequently transferred them to the Hodan District Administration office, where they remain in detention.
The journalists—representing five well-established media outlets—were reportedly targeted while performing their professional duties. They were gathering public opinion on the return of opposition politicians to Mogadishu and the expected resurgence of political activity in the city.
This incident has sparked widespread condemnation from press freedom advocates, who argue that such actions not only violate national and international laws protecting freedom of the press, but also contribute to a climate of fear and repression for media professionals in Somalia.
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