Somali forces and allied militias in Baidoa restrict media access amid political and security developments in South West State

Somali forces and allied militias in Baidoa restrict media access amid political and security developments in South West State

MOGADISHU/BAIDOA, Somalia 3 April 2026– The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) calls on Somali government forces and allied militias in Baidoa, South West State, to allow journalists to report independently on developments in the city, including political and security issues following the recent change in administration.

On Tuesday, 31 March, a group of 20 journalists from local and regional media were blocked and denied access to the presidential palace, Baidoa, following thearrivalof Aden Mohamed Nur, also known as Sheikh Aden Madobe, Speaker of the Somali Lower House of Parliament. Journalists told SJS that security guards attached to Speaker Madobe prevented them from entering the palace and covering ongoing meetings. This occurred a day after the South West State leadership, including President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen,left the cityfor Nairobi, Kenya, as the city was taken over by federal forces and allied clan militias.

Journalists who initially went to Shaati Gaduud Airport in Baidoa said they were able to capture videos and photos of Speaker Aden Madobe’s arrival but were denied access to the palace by security guards without explanation, effectively blocking the media from obtaining information crucial for their reporting.

Journalists also reported worrying developments, including incidents of gunfire in the city andthe alleged killingsby gunmen in what some described as clan-related revenge. There were also reports of looting in certain areas of the city by militias, according to journalists and NGOs in Baidoa.

SJS interviewed two journalists who previously worked in Baidoa; they said they left the city due to fear of retaliation linked to their clan identity.

On Monday, 30 March, Baidoa fell to Somali federal government forces and allied clan militias after days of violent clashes on the city outskirts. Local NGO representatives told SJS that mass displacement occurred before and during the clashes, though some residents have begun returning. On 1 April, the Prime Minister of the Somali Federal Government, Hamsa Abdi Barre,issued a decreeappointing his deputy, Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi, as "Acting Leader” of the South West State.

On Thursday, 2 April, media reported a briefgunfight eruptedat the Baidoa municipal office, where a clan militia and its commander reportedly captured the facility, prompting another group of militias to attack. Journalists nearby told SJS that several people were killed and injured, causing fear in the local community.

On the morning of Friday, 3 April, a group of 10 journalists wereagain deniedaccess to Shaati Gaduud Airport, where clan elders from the Digil and Mirifle clans were arriving. Two journalists affected told SJS that, upon arrival at the airport entrance, heavily armed officers from the Gaashaan Force—a unit now attached to Somali National Intelligence and the Office of the President—threatened them at gunpoint and instructed them to leave. "No journalist is allowed to enter the airport,” one reporter told SJS.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was also reported to have arrived in Baidoa on Friday.

SJS calls on Somali government forces and allied militias in Baidoa, South West State, to allow journalists to report independently on developments in the city—including political and security matters—following the recent change in administration, and to immediately cease threats and denial of access that target independent journalists, many of whom work for local media, as they strive to keep the public informed about events in the region.

"We express deep concern over these incidents. We call for all actors involved in the political and security developments in Baidoa to ensure unhindered access for journalists and the media community,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

"Journalists often risk their lives to keep the public informed, and it is unacceptable that their work continues to be obstructed and their access denied, especially during events of significant public interest,” added Mr. Mumin.