MOGADISHU, Somalia 23 October 2026 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) calls on the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) to cease its harassment and threats against journalists reporting on local communities’ complaints against government officials in Mogadishu. The latest incident involved the arrest of two Kalsan TV journalists in Mogadishu this week.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, 21 October 2026, NISA officers raided Ileys Hotel in Mogadishu’s Yaaqshiid district, where members of a local youth group had gathered for a meeting raising complaints against the Mayor of Mogadishu. Kalsan TV journalists were present to cover the event. The officers arrested videographer Zakariye Abshir, who was filming the meeting, and confiscated his camera equipment and mobile phone before taking him to Yaaqshiid Police Station.

Zakariye told SJS that the armed officers beat him before placing him in a NISA vehicle and taking him to the police station, where he was held in a filthy, dark cell with no ventilation. While in custody, Zakariye told SJS that he was also physically assaulted by other inmates held at the facility.

According to a report later published by Kalsan TV, the journalists were covering a youth meeting at which several members of the Mataan Cabdulle clan spoke and accused Mogadishu Mayor Hassan Mohamed Hussein "Mungaab” of targeting members of their clan by dismissing them from positions they held within the Banadir Regional Administration.

The youth also accused the mayor of corruption and misuse of public funds.

Kalsan TV editor Jafar Mohamed told SJS that NISA officers knew about the meeting and stormed the hotel shortly after the speeches had ended. The officers harassed the hotel management and demanded that the meeting be stopped before turning their attention to Zakariye Abshir.

Later that day, NISA officers also arrested Kalsan TV editor Jafar Mohamed when he went to the police station to demand his colleague’s release. Both were detained until 9:00 p.m. that day before being released without charge.

Journalists in Mogadishu told SJS that armed, plainclothes NISA officers routinely monitor hotel meetings in the city where journalists may be reporting. SJS has also documented cases in which journalists were blocked and prevented from covering public gatherings at various hotels where members of the Somali opposition were meeting or on other occasions, meetings where local communities and clans gather to raise complaints against federal government authorities.

SJS condemns the unlawful arrest and the harassment and the beating of Zakariye Abshir and his colleague Jafar Mohamed. SJS calls on NISA to cease its intimidation and threats aimed at preventing journalists from reporting on issues deemed critical of the government. Journalists have the right to cover developments in their communities, including complaints and concerns raised against government officials.

"We condemn the recent unlawful arrest of Jafar Mohamed and his colleague Zakariye Abshir of Kalsan TV in Mogadishu and the physical assault they have been subjected to. We call Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) to cease its illegal and unacceptable harassment campaign of journalists reporting on public complaints against government officials in Mogadishu,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin. "You cannot silence an entire community by targeting the journalists who tell its story simply because the government officials do not want its mistakes exposed.”

"The communities in Mogadishu must have the right to assemble, raise concerns, and voice complaints, even when those complaints involve high-profile government officials. When they do, the media has the right to cover these concerns so that the government can listen, address grievances, and correct its mistakes. Journalists must be able to work freely and safely, without fear of intimidation, beatings, confiscation of equipment, or other forms of physical assault,” Mr. Mumin added.