MOGADISHU, Somalia – Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Saturday strongly condemned the arrest of several journalists and civilians by government security forces in the capital, Mogadishu, calling it an attack on press freedom and freedom of expression.
In a statement, Ahmed denounced the detentions as “an act of oppression against free press, independent journalists, and freedom of expression.” He criticized the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) for targeting journalists while claiming to uphold democratic principles ahead of planned elections.
“The current FGS leadership claims to be holding free and fair elections while pursuing journalists on the streets just for their work,” Ahmed said, emphasizing the critical role of journalists in building a democratic state. He demanded the immediate release of those detained.
Somali authorities have not issued a public response to the arrests or Ahmed’s statement. The detentions come amid growing concerns over press freedom in Somalia, where journalists frequently face harassment and threats.
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