As Somalia prepares for the second phase of its war against al‑Shabab militants, a dispute has emerged between independent media and the government over journalists’ access to front lines, liberated areas, and combat operations. In a statement on March 25, Somalia’s Ministry of Information claimed that 3,000 al‑Shabab fighters were killed and 3,700 injured during the first phase of military operations from August 2022 to January 2023, and that 70 towns and villages had been liberated. The militant group, however, asserted that the first phase had failed. No independent sources have verified either side’s claims.
Mohamed Abdiwahab, director of Mogadishu‑based Radio Risaala, said that during the first phase journalists were denied front‑line access and had to rely on statements from government officials and al‑Shabab. “We need to be out there with the troops and report from the front lines and liberated areas so Somali citizens receive impartial news from independent journalists, rather than waiting for counter‑claims and press conferences from opposing sides,” he said. Somali journalists routinely face obstacles such as forced self‑censorship, constant threats, and restrictions on reporting military operations.
According to the New York‑based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Somalia has topped the 2022 Global Impunity Index for the eighth consecutive year. The index highlights countries where journalists are murdered in retaliation and their killers go free. CPJ recorded 19 journalists killed for their work since 2012, with no convictions. In October, security forces arrested Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, secretary‑general of the Somali Journalists Syndicate, after the government announced a crackdown on outlets it deemed to be propagating al‑Shabab propaganda. In February, after about five months in jail, a Mogadishu court sentenced Mumin to two months’ imprisonment, but he was released shortly after the ruling.
A journalist who asked to remain anonymous warned, “We want freedom of reporting; the government wants to control information. Denial of access to information and free reporting is the most sweeping form of censorship we could face.” Under tightly controlled conditions, the Somali military permits a limited number of government media members to embed with troops, but most are confined to bases and liberated areas, according to an anonymous military radio reporter.
Al‑Shabab has long banned journalists from reporting news that contradicts its interpretation of Islam and has prohibited independent media in areas it controls. “It’s not just about active battle stories; there are many stories from liberated areas—humanitarian issues, and giving people suppressed by terrorists a chance to speak about their experiences under al‑Shabab rule,” Abdiwahab said. Multiple Somalia‑based media organizations and journalist advocates told VOA that journalists in government‑controlled areas rely on the constitutional right to freedom of opinion and expression, yet they often risk reprisals. “We never expected mercy and freedom from al‑Shabab, and journalists in government‑controlled areas risk arrests for criticizing officials and reporting on security matters,” Abdiwahab added.
Last month, both houses of parliament approved, and the president signed, a new anti‑terrorism law and intelligence agency bill. Rights groups and journalist advocates warned that the legislation contains provisions that could be used to violate freedom of speech and the press. Somali journalist‑turned‑lawmaker Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, a five‑time survivor of al‑Shabab attacks, argued that journalists should have unfettered access to combat zones and that the government should facilitate this to ensure reliable reporting from independent sources, without conflicting with the constitution.
Government officials deny a policy of denying journalists front‑line access. Deputy Minister of Information Abdirahman Yusuf Al‑Adala said there is no such policy, but security concerns remain. “We have a responsibility to protect journalists. Al‑Shabab uses IEDs, land mines and ambushes, which could endanger journalists,” he explained. “Their safety is our priority. Whenever safe and possible, we will let them report from the front lines.”
As journalists press for access to the second phase of operations, the Information Ministry announced that government‑owned media will actively share information with citizens. “As part of the government’s three‑pronged approach—military, financial and ideological—government media will report on the second phase, sharing updates on conditions in liberated areas and the progress of stabilization programs,” Information Minister Daud Aweis Jama told VOA Somali.
This report originated in VOA’s Somali Service.
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