Journalists at risk under Somalia's outgoing president

Somali militant group, al-Shabab on Saturday evening claimed responsibility for killing Abdiazizi Guled aka Africa, the Director of state-owned Radio Mogadishu for campaigning against the group. 

A surge in violent attacks, threats, harassment and intimidation of media workers is making Somalia one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist.

From barely surviving explosive-wired cars, being shot, beaten up and arbitrarily arrested, journalists in Somalia are working in horrifying conditions.

Throughout Farmaajo's presidency journalists have had to contend with targeted attacks from both Al-Shabaab and government security forces, increased censorship and arbitrary arrests - forcing at least eight to flee the country.

at least eight journalists have been killed in Somalia since President Farmajo took office. Five died in indiscriminate Al-Shabaab attacks, two were killed by unidentified attackers, and one was shot dead by a federal police officer.

Pervasive censorship in Somalia has forced many journalists to turn to social media to express their opinions, but authorities have set up dedicated teams to monitor and report critical content.

Journalists were instructed by their editors not to write articles critical of the offices of the President and Prime Minister, or about insecurity, corruption, and human rights violations.

Examples of censorship and allegations of bribery of media outlets by the Somalia government have been documented. Officials at the Office of the President reportedly paid monthly bribes to some media owners and directors not to publish “unfavourable” stories.

Journalists were aggressively threatened by government officials with serious consequences if they refused to remove critical content from their personal social media accounts.

Rights organizations demand President Farmajo must be held accountable for the several violations of human rights and media freedom.

For the last seven years, Somalia has topped CPJ’s Impunity Index, which tracks countries’ records of holding journalists’ killers to account.