MOGADISHU, Somalia — In an incident highlighting ongoing media freedoms considerations in Somalia, Abdi Ali Mohamed, answerable for police checkpoints in Mogadishu, confiscated gear from Shabelle Media Community journalists protecting the Saturday morning clashes within the Hodon district.
The battle arose over the eviction of households from public land.
The seizure occurred when Mohamed, not in uniform, forcibly took a digital camera and microphone from journalist Zakariye Ahmed Muse and his cameraman Najib Farah, successfully halting their protection.
This act of confiscation by what seemed to be an off-duty officer raises questions in regards to the operational autonomy of the media in Somalia and the enforcement of legislation by authorities.
Shabelle Media Community, recognized for its reporting on native points, has confronted numerous challenges, together with direct threats and violence towards its journalists, making this incident a part of a broader sample of media suppression within the area.
