Event Summary
On 12 June 2025, armed agents from Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) raided Himilo Somali TV, an independent media outlet based in Mogadishu. The raid followed the station’s broadcast of an interview with a young man who claimed he had been abducted and forcibly registered to vote.
According to two journalists who spoke with the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), the incident occurred around 9:00 a.m. Fourteen armed NISA officers arrived at the Himilo Somali TV studio on Maka Al-Mukarama Road. Eight officers entered the building while six remained stationed outside at the gate. Journalists inside the studio reported that the armed agents caused panic among staff. In an effort to protect themselves, the journalists locked the doors. The agents demanded the removal of the interview report and searched for the journalist responsible, who was not present at the time. This represents a serious threat to the enabling environment for civil society, as it undermines press freedom, intimidates independent media, and discourages public discourse on electoral integrity.