Tuesday March 3, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — A Jubbaland state police officer has been arrested after fatally shooting broadcast journalist Abshir Khalif Shide Omar in Kismayo, authorities and media representatives said Tuesday.
The killing occurred Monday evening in the interim administrative capital of Jubbaland following a brief altercation between the journalist and the officer. The motive remains unclear, and the circumstances surrounding the shooting are still under investigation.
“A thorough investigation will be conducted, and the case will proceed through the appropriate legal channels,” Duale said. The arrest marks a rare instance in Kismayo in which a police officer accused of killing a journalist has been promptly apprehended.
According to the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Abshir had been returning from an iftar gathering with fellow journalists at the time of the incident. The group had been editing a program recorded earlier featuring politicians. Colleagues said Abshir had recorded a voiceover for the segment, which was scheduled for broadcast later that night.
NUSOJ said preliminary inquiries confirmed those details but noted that the full circumstances of the confrontation remain unclear.
Abshir had worked as a freelance journalist for the past three months. Previously, he was affiliated with Jubbaland TV, Wamo Radio and Hornconnect, a privately owned media production company.
His death appears to be the first reported killing of a journalist in Somalia this year, underscoring persistent concerns about press freedom and the safety of media workers in a country where journalists frequently face threats from both state and non-state actors.
“This is a tragic and deeply troubling incident,” said Omar Faruk Osman, secretary-general of NUSOJ. “A police officer is entrusted with protecting citizens, including journalists carrying out their professional duties. When a journalist is killed in such circumstances, it raises grave concerns about the safety of media workers and the culture of accountability within law enforcement.”
Osman called for a swift, transparent and credible judicial process to ensure justice and restore public confidence. The union urged authorities to take concrete steps to prevent further violence against journalists.
Somalia remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for media professionals, with reporters routinely exposed to targeted killings, arbitrary arrests and intimidation amid ongoing conflict and political volatility.
