Mogadishu, Thursday, May 7, 2026 — The Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ) has published its Annual Report 2025–2026 titled “Somalia Media: A Profession Dying of Fear,” which examines the state of press freedom and the safety of journalists in Somalia during the reporting period from May 2025 to May 2026. The report highlights the increasingly restrictive environment in which Somali journalists continue to operate amid persistent security, legal, and institutional challenges.
The report documents 78 violations against journalists and media professionals, including one killing, 45 cases of arrest and detention, and 32 incidents involving threats, assaults, harassment, abduction, censorship, and interference with reporting. The majority of these incidents occurred while journalists were carrying out their professional duties, often without clear legal grounds or due process.
The findings further demonstrate the growing impact of fear, intimidation, and pressure on the media landscape, contributing to self-censorship, weakened editorial independence, and reduced public access to credible information. The report also raises concerns regarding the limited implementation of constitutional guarantees and media laws intended to protect freedom of expression and press freedom in Somalia.
Through this report, FESOJ calls upon the Federal Government of Somalia, Federal Member States, security institutions, international partners, and civil society actors to strengthen efforts aimed at protecting journalists, combating impunity, and creating a safer and more enabling environment for independent and professional journalism in Somalia.
