Monday October 13, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on
Sunday strongly condemned the arrest of Himilo TV Director Ahmed Mohamed Aden
and his Deputy Director Khadar Abdirahman Ibrahim.
The two journalists are being held at the Waabari District
Police Station in Mogadishu.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Sharif Sheikh
Ahmed expressed regret over the government’s arrest of the Himilo TV executives
and called for their immediate release.
“I am deeply saddened by the constant attacks on local media
outlets, which are documented every day in an attempt to silence Somali
journalists operating in Mogadishu,” said the former president.
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed urged government leaders to uphold the
country’s Constitution, which he said fully guarantees freedom of the press.
“The head of state and security agencies have a national
responsibility, as our Constitution guarantees free media and the safety of
journalists,” he added.
The arrest of the Himilo TV Director and his deputy has also
been widely condemned by politicians opposed to the Federal Government of
Somalia.
The motive behind the arrests remains unclear, as the
federal government has yet to comment on the incident.