On 23rd February 2026, journalist Abdihafid Nur Barre of Somali Cable Television, was abducted from a restaurant in the Waberi District of Mogadishu by uniformed members of the Somali National Army (SNA). He was reportedly held by SNA personnel at an undisclosed location, and no official charges were communicated at the time of his detention. The circumstances surrounding his arrest raised serious concerns about due process, transparency and the safety of journalists.

Credible information suggests that his detention may have been linked to his critical reporting. The failure to promptly disclose his whereabouts or clarify the legal basis for his detention created deep anxiety among members of the media community and his family, who feared for his safety and wellbeing. Holding a journalist incommunicado without charge constitutes a serious violation of Somalia’s constitutional guarantees and international human rights standards. After 12hrs of detention, Abdihafid Nur Barre was later released from detention on 24th February.