Somali Media Women Association

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Somali Media Women Association

Empowering women

09/07/2025

The Somali Media Women Association (SOMWA), in collaboration with the Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ) and with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy, held a one-day workshop in Mogadishu on press freedom and the protection of journalists in Somalia.
The workshop highlighted the increasing threats faced by journalists and emphasised the urgent need to strengthen press freedom and journalist safety through legal reform, awareness, dialogue, and capacity building.

In his opening remarks, Carsten Carlsen, Chargé d’Affaires of the Norwegian Embassy, condemned the harassment, intimidation, and imprisonment of journalists, often linked to state actors, calling such actions "unacceptable under any circumstances".
SOMWA Executive Director Maryan Seylac, delivering the keynote address, drew attention to the unique risks faced by female journalists, including sexual harassment, online abuse, defamation, and threats to their families—stating that these violations aim not only to silence but to erase women from the profession.

The workshop concluded with a dynamic panel discussion on recent media crackdowns, the need for stronger legal protections, and the role of ethical journalism in upholding democracy.

06/07/2025

SOMWA has just wrapped up a powerful 2-day training in Baidoa with 25 female journalists on physical and online safety.
📌 Today's session focused on:
Situational AwarenessPersonal and Cultural AwarenessCounter-Surveillance, Crossfire Situations, Bombings SVBIED (Su***de Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices) and VBIED (Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices).
🎤 In the closing event, Maryan Seylac stated, "Female journalists in Baidoa face a more pronounced threat profile. In addition to the physical dangers, online gender-based violence—including doxxing, cyberbullying, and threats of sexual violence—disproportionately targets female journalists. These risks are compounded by social stigma, lack of trauma support, and cultural barriers, often forcing women to self-censor, leave the profession, or suffer in silence."
Minister Bilal of ministery of information and culture responded to a call for legislation to address the physical and online safety of female journalists. He indicated that his team would work on such legislation. He also encouraged female journalists to take an active role in promoting women's political participation.
Participants expressed their gratitude for the training, describing it as one that will make a significant difference in their daily work lives, both physical and online.

05/07/2025

📍 Happening Now in Baidoa!
We’re hosting vital training on physical and online safety for female journalists with 25 courageous women journalists from the region.

Maryan Seylac, Executive Director of SOMWA, opened the session by highlighting the growing number of online and offline violations targeting women in media. She shared alarming statistics recorded so far this year, calling for stronger protections and urgent action. Maryan added: "SOMWA, in partnership with IWMF, developed a comprehensive safety manual tailored for Somali women journalists, covering both field-based risks (e.g., crossfire, surveillance, checkpoints) and online threats (e.g., doxxing, cyber harassment, data breaches). This manual is a game changer, and every female journalist should have it."
This training aims to equip female journalists with the tools and knowledge to stay safe, both in the field and online.
This timely and important training is sponsored by
United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS)

15/06/2025

Codka Bay iyo Bakool.

15/06/2025

🎉 Day 2 marked the successful conclusion of our 2-day training on gender-sensitive, ethical reporting & content development for media professionals in Somalia. The training officially concluded with remarks from the Minister of Information, Tourism & Culture, who emphasised the importance of inclusive, ethical storytelling in Somalia’s media.

Participants welcomed the training, reflecting on how media can unknowingly use biased language that reinforces stereotypes and discrimination. This training helped raise critical awareness.

“This program will foster responsible journalism and challenge harmful narratives. “It’s a step toward a more just and gender-sensitive media landscape in Somalia,” said Ruqiya.

A huge thanks to all participants, facilitators, and supporters! Together, we're shaping a media environment that respects all voices. The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia sponsors this programme, and without their support, it would not have been possible.

14/06/2025

Thanks to KG TV.

14/06/2025

Hubaal

14/06/2025

🧵1/3📍 Happening now in Baidoa, Somalia: The first day of two trainings on gender-sensitive, ethical reporting and content development for 25 media professionals in Baidoa, Somalia.

The purpose of this two-day training program is to equip journalists in Baidoa with the necessary skills to challenge gender stereotypes and discriminatory narratives, report ethically on gender issues, and adopt survivor-centered approaches to GBV.

The program encourages the use of inclusive language and fair representation in content development, thereby elevating the voices of women and advancing gender-sensitive storytelling.

In her opening remarks, Ruqia Adan, SOMWA secretariat, stated, "The media plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse, yet gender inequalities persist in news coverage and newsroom leadership. Women journalists face significant barriers, including limited access to training, exclusion from decision-making, and societal biases that restrict their professional growth. As a result, gender-based violence (GBV) reporting often lacks sensitivity, reinforcing victim-blaming narratives and harmful stereotypes rather than advocating for justice and accountability.''

Opening the training, Mohamed Ibrahim Bilaal, the minister of information, culture, and tourism of SWS, stated, ''I am thrilled to be here today to open this training to enhance the professional capacity of journalists. In particular, this training will touch on gender equality in the reporting of news and also look at the participation of women during news-making and interviews. I hope you will apply the knowledge you gain over these two days to your work.''

31/05/2025

The Somali Media Women Association (SOMWA) strongly condemns the arrest yesterday evening of Ismail Khaliif, director of , by local authorities in Wanlaweyn district, Lower Shabelle region. The arrest was made following a Facebook post by Khaliif that offered a critical commentary on remarks made yesterday by the district governor, Abdukadir Mohamed Abdullahi, during Friday prayer.
As of now, Khaliif remains in detention, having spent the night in a prison cell, without any formal charges or legal justification.

This troubling incident comes just a day after three other journalists—Mohamed Abdi Hassan (Afgooye), Nuux Qaradawi, and Mohamed Abdukaadir (Bidaar) from Five Somali TV and RTN—were threatened and barred by Haramacad police forces from covering local protests in the Kaxda area. The protests were in response to disputes over the implementation of a one-person, one-vote electoral system in this area.

SOMWA’s Demands:

SOMWA calls on the Somali government and regional authorities to:

1) Immediately release journalist Ismail Khaliif and drop all attempts to criminalise legitimate journalistic expression.

2) Investigate the conduct of Haramacad officers who intimidated and blocked journalists in Kaxda, and take appropriate disciplinary action.

3) Reaffirm the government’s commitment to press freedom and the safety of media workers, particularly those reporting on governance, elections, and public accountability.

For more info, click here: https://shorturl.at/jTUqO

24/05/2025

SOMWA Condemns Arbitrary Arrest and Intimidation of Journalists by Somali Intelligence Agency.

Mogadishu, May 24, 2025 —
The Somali Media Women Association (SOMWA) strongly condemns the latest wave of harassment and intimidation against Somali journalists by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). In a deeply alarming incident, 11 journalists, including two female reporters, were arrested today while covering public interviews on Maka Al-Mukarama Street in Mogadishu.

The journalists were reportedly affiliated with well-known media houses including Shabelle TV, Somali Cable, Goobjoog Media Group, FIVE TV, and SYL TV.
Journalists confirmed that:
• NISA forcefully deleted recorded footage from their equipment;
• Security agents threatened them with further action should they return to the area;
• Their photographs were taken by security agents as if they were criminals, an act seen as an attempt to intimidate and profile them unlawfully.

This incident represents a gross violation of Somalia’s Provisional Constitution, particularly Article 18, which guarantees freedom of expression, access to information, and press freedom. Moreover, the targeting of female journalists raises specific concerns about the increasing risks faced by women in the media profession.
Why This Matters:
This is not an isolated case. SOMWA has documented repeated instances of unlawful arrests, threats, and harassment of journalists by state security agents, particularly those covering sensitive stories or operating in public spaces.
Such actions:
• Undermine the role of the press in holding power to account;
• Erode public trust in democratic institutions;
• Create a climate of fear, particularly for female journalists who already face gender-specific threats;
• Violate international human rights norms, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

🛑 SOMWA Calls for Immediate Action:
1. Immediate and unconditional release of any detained journalists;
2. A transparent investigation into the conduct of the NISA agents involved;
3. Public accountability for those responsible for these violations;
4. A reaffirmation by the Somali Federal Government of its commitment to press freedom and journalist safety;
5. Special protections for women journalists, who face intersecting risks of gender-based violence and repression.
✊ Journalism is not a crime. Journalism is not terrorism.
Silencing journalists is not only a betrayal of Somalia’s constitutional order—it is a threat to every citizen’s right to know the truth.

05/05/2025

In the last four months of this year, Somali journalists experienced an unprecedented wave of arrests, intimidations and assaults by Somali security forces.

The minister of information, culture, and tourism of Somalia, Hon. Daud Aweis, explaining how they plan to balance the government's need for national security with the public's right to know and the media's right to report freely. He stated that his government has transparent laws that delineate what constitutes national security threats versus what constitutes public interest reporting.

On the contrary, 's General Secretary Farah Omar expressed concern about the government's laws: "The last two months were very painful for us. There have been violations that didn't even go to trial; there have been arrests, torture, and killings." Omar.

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Monday	09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 17:00
Thursday	09:00 - 17:00
Friday	09:00 - 17:00

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+447943530899

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http://www.somwa.org/

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