MOGADISHU, Somalia 13 June, 2024 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) condemns the restrictions against the independent press reporting from the public cemetery at the Police Training Academy in Mogadishu, where the government ordered the exhumation of dead bodies on Monday 10 June, 2024.
On Tuesday morning, 11 June, a group of journalists from independent media houses were at the scene to report on the exhumation of graves at the public cemetery. The journalists told SJS that they were interviewing concerned and traumatised individuals, some of whom said they were asked for money in exchange for “approval to remove the remains of their loved ones”, when they were verbally harassed and refused access by a police officer named Sulayman. All journalists and media crew were subsequently forced to leave the scene affecting their reporting.
During a press conference on Monday, Somali government officials, accompanied by religious leaders, announced plans to remove the cemetery located by the seaside near Mogadishu airport, which has been the resting place for more than 50,000 bodies, including civilians and soldiers. The government representatives also announced a 10-day ultimatum for those whose loved ones were buried in the cemetery. The announcement caused public uproar and anger in Mogadishu, prompting members of the public to rush to the cemetery on Tuesday. Local media also went to cover the developments at the cemetery, including demands for payment imposed on those who came to remove the bodies of their loved ones.
On Wednesday, 12 June, police officers at the cemetery briefly detained and confiscated the equipment of cameraman Abdifatah Hassan Mohamed from the local radio station Kulmiye while he was covering the cemetery. He was held at the scene for several hours before being freed. Radio Kulmiye reported that they had to “pay $20 to the police officer” to secure their cameraman’s freedom and the return of his equipment.
Journalists told SJS that since Tuesday, the area has been cordoned off by armed police who continue to deny journalists access.
Police spokesman did not respond to SJS queries on the restrictions against the journalists.
SJS considers this incident as an attempt to suppress the important work of the independent media and to hide information about the forced exhumations of bodies and the distress caused from the public and the world. We call on all those involved in restricting and threatening the journalists to cease their actions immediately.
“SJS is annoyed and condemns the unfair and unjustified restriction of journalists’ access to the School Polizia cemetery. Even if authorities are uncomfortable with the scrutiny, it is imperative to allow journalists to report on significant events, especially those affecting thousands of people whose loved ones are in the cemetery to be removed,” said SJS Secretary General Abdalle Mumin.
“While the government orders the removal of bodies within 10 days, families are struggling to identify graves due to lack of proper markings, leaving many families in distress. Additionally, many poor families cannot afford the exhumation fees and other money demanded by the authorities there. Journalists, therefore, have important role in uncovering these details, and we call for their right to access and report on these important incidents as part of accountability in matters deeply impacting the community,” added Mr. Mumin.