840 cases in Somalia

Somalia is considered as one of the most dangerous countries in Africa for journalists and media workers. World Press Freedom Index scores it at 163 in 2020 ranking index up from 164 place in 2019 according to Reporters Without Borders.

Acts of arbitrary arrests and detention, harassment, killings, assassinations, threats to kill, forced shutdown of media outlets and intimidation through criminal charges are common throughout the south-central Somalia and Puntland. Journalists have to contend with the pressure from the government, the regional authorities as well as the Al-Shabab – terrorist group to manipulate the media to control public narrative and bolster their power at the heavy cost of media freedom and safety and protection of journalists, global media monitors observes.