SJS calls for investigation into the enforced disappearance of Mogadishu-based journalist Ali Shujac on suspicions of involvement by State Minister of Interior

Journalist Ali Mohammed Ahmed (popularly known as Ali Shujac). | PHOTO/Facebook.

MOGADISHU, Somalia 23 August, 2024– The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) calls for a thorough investigation into the enforced disappearance of local journalist Ali Mohammed Ahmed (known as Ali Shujac) in Mogadishu on Wednesday this week, with allegations of involvement by the State Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Reconciliation of the Somali Federal Government.

On Wednesday, 21 August 2024, Ali Shujac, who works for the Mogadishu-based Rogan News Network (RNN TV), wentmissingwhile conducting vox-pop interviews in the KM4 area (Hodan neighborhood) of Mogadishu. Eyewitnesses reported seeing three plain-clothed men escorting him to a nearby street, where they harassed and interrogated him for more than two hours before later detaining him at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) without disclosing his whereabouts.

Thanks to the immense pressure exerted by local journalists, SJS, and family members, Ali Shujac was found alive after more than 24 hours of enforced disappearance. The three individuals involved in his disappearance were later identified as plain-clothed police officers working for the Somali police CID.

According to an investigation by SJS, the disappearance follows a months-long dispute between Ali Shujac and the State Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Reconciliation of the Somali Federal Government, Sadad Alio, who is also a member of the Somali Federal Parliament. This dispute began in late September 2023, when the journalist and minister Sadad first met at a Mogadishu hotel duringa two-day workshophosted by the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Reconciliation, as corroborated by two sources who spoke to SJS.

These interactions at the event and subsequent communications appear to have set the stage for what now became an enforced disappearance.

On 5 July 2024, Ali Shujacposteda Facebook picture of Minister Sadad Alio and two other individuals with the caption "The hypocrites are neither for peace nor for war.”

Following this post, a relative of the minister invited the journalist to a meeting with the minister that would have taken place at the minister’s apartment, which Ali Shujac declined due to security concerns.

On 25 July, Ali Shujac posted another Facebookposttitled "The Traits of a Person Who Cannot Be a Leader,” mentioning Minister Sadad Alio on Facebook.

It is this post that led to a series of suspicious contacts from individuals claiming to be from the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of the Somali Federal Government, who attempted to arrange an interview with the journalist. According to a chain of Whatsapp messages reviewed by SJS, the two individuals making the contact claimed to be working for the Ministry of Fisheries, describing themselves as "a director” and "a manager” respectively for the what they claimed to be "Somali Seashore Safety.” (It is not clear if such department exists).

"I contacted people I knew and asked if they were familiar with the names claiming to be working for the Ministry of Fisheries. The contacts informed me that such names do not work for the ministry. At that moment, I became suspicious of them and told them that I would be busy but suggested sending someone else, which they refused,” Ali Shujac said.

At one point, the two individuals making contact offered to send a car to pick up the journalist from his home and also gave him a three-day deadline (from Thursday, 25 July to Saturday, 27 July 2024) to either accept the interview with their director, or that they would "seek another journalist to conduct the interview”, as revealed by the WhatsApp messages.

SJS shared the names and alleged positions of the two individuals with contacts at the Ministry of Fisheries. SJS was also informed that no such roles or names exist within the Ministry.

In the days leading up to his disappearance, Ali Shujac continued to posts deemed critical to Minister Sadad Alio on Facebook, withthe last one postedon 14 August 2024, alleging that the minister had "failed to represent” his community. On the day of Ali Shujac’s disappearance, the plain-clothed officers who took him from the street mentioned that they had been searching for him for two weeks in connection to his criticism of the minister.

"While holding me on a street corner, one of the three armed men made two calls to someone he referred to as ‘minister.’ At one point, he said, ‘The minister is coming in his black car to collect you,’ but a second guy intervened and said, ‘If this young man is handed over to that minister, he might kill him,'” Ali Shujac told SJS.

During this ordeal, the armed officers demanded $20 (twenty US Dollars) from Ali Shujac so that they can buy ‘khat,’ which he could not pay.

Ali Shujac was eventually taken to the CID headquarters at KM4, where he was held without charges. His name was not entered in the occurrence book, and a CID officer later told SJS that the officers who detained the journalist were acting on behalf of a government minister, not the police.

On Thursday, 22 August, after pressure from concerned journalists, he was released, but only after being forced to sign an apology letter to Minister Sadad Alio. Ali Shujac reported that his pre-existing health conditions worsened during this ordeal and that he could not access his medication.

"Before my release, I was taken to a room where an old man was sitting, and then a CID officer came and said to me, ‘Listen, if you want to live in peace in this city, stay away from criticizing the minister, or you will be in trouble,'” Ali Shujac said.

SJS wrote to Minister Sadad Alio for comment on the journalist’s disappearance but has received no response.

"The enforced disappearance of journalist Ali Shujac for 24 hours in Mogadishu this week at the hands of Somali police officers is a serious breach of press freedom and human rights, and we condemn it. This act constitutes a severe violation of human rights. We are relieved that he was found safe; however, the Somali police and authorities in Mogadishu must act swiftly and investigate this matter with integrity,” said SJS Secretary-General, Abdalle Mumin "No one should have the power to kidnap someone and enforce their disappearance. We demand a full and transparent investigation to hold those responsible accountable, whether they are government officials or police officers. We also call on the State Minister of Interior to provide a full report to the police regarding his knowledge and involvement in this case.” - END -