Somalia AG Threatens Court Actions against Journalists ahead of Elections

Censorship against Somalia’s independent media seems inevitable following the latest threats by Attorney General Suleiman Mohamed Mohamud, media watchdog Somali Journalists Syndicate [SJS] has warned, just months after President Farmajo promised to protect freedom of media and free speech….

The country is headed to a crucial electioneering period although the country’s leadership is yet to agree given the controversial elections committee team that had been nominated by the president and which has since been disputed by a section of opposition leaders.

The Attorney General now says journalists will be dragged to court for “misreporting” for an appropriate action something which raises questions about the timing of the statement which coincides with a pre-election crisis that could plunge the country into unprecedented chaos. 

During a pressure conference on Thursday, Mohamud issued a warning to the independent media over a claim that they were “disseminating rumors, interviews and misleading headlines that violate the Media Law and the Media Ethics”. 

The AG further declared that his office “was investigating cases involving media houses and journalists and that he will present to relevant courts once the ongoing investigations are complete”. It is not yet clear which media houses and journalists the AG were referring to.

Early this month, the Jubaland security forces apprehended Royal TV reporter and SJS member, Abdullahi Hussein Kilas in Kismayo over a news report covering a protest by a group of displaced women who allegedly complained about misappropriation of cash-based assistance to the displaced families in Kismayo. Journalist Kilas was released after he was ordered to remove the story of the protest from his social media accounts and was not charged.