MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Federal Government of Somalia on Tuesday received 25 prisoners of war handed over by the SSC-Khaatumo administration. The transfer follows Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s official visit to Lasanod.
The detainees, captured during the 2023 armed clashes between SSC-Khaatumo forces and Somaliland troops in Lasanod, had been held in detention facilities across the Sool region for more than a year.
Their return to Mogadishu was facilitated by high-ranking federal officials, including the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hassan Moallim, and the Minister of Education and Higher Learning, Farah Abdiqadir, who accompanied them on the flight.
The Somali National Television (SNTV), a government-run broadcaster, aired footage and still images of the prisoners disembarking at Aden Abdulle International Airport.
Concerns Over Consent and Media Conduct
The coverage has since ignited public debate, with human rights advocates and media experts raising concerns over the ethics of broadcasting identifiable images of prisoners, particularly those still in custody or undergoing reintegration.
Veteran journalist Bashir Mahmoud Caato was among the first to publicly criticize the broadcast, arguing that the public display of the prisoners, possibly without their informed consent, breaches widely accepted journalistic norms.
“It is a violation of media ethics for state-run outlets to broadcast footage of detainees who may not have given genuine consent,” said Caato.
He added: “Even if consent was technically obtained, the imbalance of power raises doubts about whether the prisoners felt free to decline. Furthermore, their appearance in potentially forced clothing adds to the ethical dilemma.”
A Call for Dignity in Handling POWs
Caato also warned that the incident could undermine Somalia’s efforts to align its media practices with international human rights standards, especially as the country seeks broader global engagement and investment.
Adding to the chorus of concern, former Foreign Minister Yusuf Garaad Omar drew on his own experience in handling wartime detainees to urge a more dignified approach.
“In previous cases, prisoners of war were placed in temporary shelters for at least seven days before any public exposure or transfer,” said Yusuf Garaad.
He added: “They received adequate food, access to hygiene, a place to rest, a medical screening, a neutral change of clothes, and a haircut. All of this was done to uphold their dignity and meet basic humanitarian standards.”
Somali Government Yet to Respond
He emphasized that such measures are not only humane but also contribute to long-term peacebuilding by avoiding the humiliation of former combatants—many of whom may be reintegrated into society.
As of press time, the Federal Government has not issued a formal response to the backlash surrounding the televised footage.
While government supporters hailed the prisoner transfer as a sign of improved cooperation between the center and the northern regions, critics say the administration must do more to respect the rights and dignity of all individuals under its custody.
The controversy, however, underscores a broader challenge facing Somali institutions: how to balance state-building efforts with ethical governance and accountability—especially in the realm of public communication and justice.
