Freedom of press in Somalia is guaranteed under the provisional constitution established when the Federal Government was established in 2012. More than 50 Somali journalists have been killed since 1992. Due to the danger of being exposed to sanctions from both the government and al-Shabaab, Somali journalists and publishers conduct self-censorship on certain controversial issues concerning security and corruption.LandInfo. Report Somalia: Media and journalism (8 March 2016), p. 3.

Somali Republic (1960-1969)

During the Somali Republic, freedom of the press was widely recognized as stemming from the traditional right of every individual to be heard, reflecting both Somali customary practices and modern democratic principles, political life was considered open to all male members of society, rather than being confined to a particular profession, clan, or social class. Politics was highly popular and radios were highly prized among nomadic communities, valued for access to news and political information. Political engagement during this period often exceeded levels observed in many developed Western democracies.

Somali Democratic Republic (1969-1991) After the military coup in 1969, the media was entirely controlled by the state. Media outlets, especially the main broadcast outlets such as Radio Mogadishu and state television were used to communicate government messages and propaganda rather than independent reporting. Independent or opposition press was effectively nonexistent.LandInfo. Report Somalia: Media and journalism (8 March 2016), p. 7. The regime established regulations and created committees responsible for controlling and censoring scripts, films, literary works, and the free expression of opinion.

The Censorship Board was formed in 1970. The board comprised members from the Ministries of Interior, Justice, Religion, Education, Information and National Guidance, as well as police and security services. The information and national guidance ministry was particularly tasked to keep on eye over what the international press would write about the regime. It charged with screening all literary productions. Even ordinary correspondence between friends and relatives was sometimes subject to review by the Censorship Board.Abdirahman Y. Duale.The Rise and Development of the Free Press in Somaliland (1998), p. 74.

In January 1971, the Censorship Committee, more draconian than the existing Censorship Board (also known as the Central Censorship Board)Bollettino ufficiale della Repubblica Democratica Somala, Anno II, Suppl. n. 2 al 3 (Mogadiscio, 7 Marzo 1971) was established. Any fiction and non-fiction books had to go through an arduous process of censorship. A new law was passed on 2 January 1971 ensuring strict censorship. Under the Law, theatrical performances and cinema shows should not be circulated without a prior authorisation of the censorship committee, headed by Ismail Ali Obokor, the Minister of Information. Another law passed on 19 August 1974 decreed that the censorship board was to be directed from the Presidential Palace. The Censorship Board made censorship a normalised element within the state. The board was notoriously known for its asinine deliberations over projects under its attention.

A 1988 Human rights report stated :"The Government owns and operates the radio and television as well as the country's six newspapers. The Central Censorship Board retains control over all media (foreign and local), including publications circulated within the country such as films, plays, concerts, lectures, and videotapes, whether imported or produced in Somalia, One editor was reportedly detained in 1988 after he reprinted an article that was no longer consistent with government policies. The Government frequently denies visas to foreign journalists and strictly controls the movements of journalists who are permitted to enter Somalia."Throughout the regime's rule, possession of пewspapers and journals unauthorized by the Censorship Board had brought prison sentences of 5 to 15 years.United Nations (UN) General Assembly Security Council. 45th session, 2 May 1990, page 9.

Civil war (1990s) The fall of Siad Barre's dictatorship in 1991 ended the state's monopoly on the media in Somalia. A free press was born in the ruins of Mogadishu. Media in Somalia became unregulated and journalists had unrestricted freedom to write and publish stories without editorial oversight, and many took an active role in the conflict's propaganda battle. Private and independent radio stations, newspapers, and other media proliferated in the 1990s. This reflected a sudden shift from the strictly controlled media under Siad Barre to a chaotic but pluralistic environment during the civil war era. However many new media organisations were founded by warlords and used as propaganda platforms for their interests, rather than as independent news sources.

In 1999, three Somali friends from Canada came back to Mogadishu to establish HornAfrik, the first independent radio network to have its headquarters in the city.

Transitional National Government (2000-2004) The National Union of Somali Journalists was formed in 2002, in response to an attempt by the Transitional National Government to re-establish regulation over the industry through what NUSOJ characterized as a "repressive" media law. The Transitional Charter and regional constitutions technically allowed press freedom. However, in practice the right was sharply restricted due to political instability and the TNG's weak control over territory and security forces. Journalists continued to face harassment, arbitrary arrest, and detention, and many were forced into exile, independent media outlets continued to proliferate during the early 2000s despite these constraints.

Islamic Courts Union (2004-2006) In September 2006, the Islamic Courts Union shut down Radio Jowhar for two days after it broadcast music and “love songs” which officials said were un-Islamic. The station was allowed to reopen only after agreeing to limitations on music.

Transitional Federal Government (2004-2012) During the Transitional Federal Government period, violence and insecurity made reporting dangerous. Journalists faced threats, harassment, and murder from multiple actors, including militia groups, insurgent factions, and sometimes government security forces, severely limiting independent journalism. Kate Peyton of the BBC, one of several foreign reporters who entered the country to cover the peace process in early 2005, was killed in Mogadishu shocking the international journalist community. Peyton was shot from a passing car outside a well-guarded Hotel where other foreign journalists were also staying. Local sources said Peyton may have been targeted to discourage foreigners and maintain a climate of insecurity. Several "veteran" Somali journalists were murdered, imprisoned or harassed by the TFG and local militias in 2005.

In 2006, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed its concern over the rising attacks on journalists as conflict intensified. By 2007, Human Rights Watch had reported that independent media growth was severely damaged, and journalists suffered killings and arbitrary arrests without effective protection or accountability. In 2008, Amnesty International and other human rights organisations documented systematic attacks on journalists, including threats and death threats attributed to both government security agencies and armed groups, which severely impeded independent reporting.

In 2009, at least nine journalists were killed in direct relation to their work making Somalia one of the world's deadliest countries for the press. HornAfrik director Said Tahlil Ahmed and Radio Shabelle director Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe were among those murdered, and media outlets were repeatedly threatened and forced off the air. A suicide bombing in Mogadishu killed three journalists at a graduation ceremony, highlighting extreme risks to media workers.Press Emblem Campaign. PEC report 2010, Geneva.

In 2010, Somalia remained Africa's most dangerous country for journalism. Two journalists were killed and many others fled the country due to violence, threats, severe censorship, and detention by insurgent groups. Journalists practiced extreme self‑censorship to survive the combination of armed conflict and government limitations.

In 2011, press freedom violations persisted with continued killings and attacks on journalists. Al‑Shabaab and other armed actors intensified threats against media personnel. Journalists continued fleeing the country or facing deadly violence, including AU soldiers implicated in a shooting incident, reflecting the extreme dangers journalists encountered even outside direct combat zones.

Deadliest Year (2012) In 2012, due to frustration at the increasing number of expatriate journalists returning to the capital after the relative improvement in security, al-Shabaab intensified their anti-media campaign, 4 journalists were killed in 24 hours.

2012 was the deadliest year ever recorded for journalists in Somalia, with at least 12 journalists killed in direct relation to their work. Most deaths occurred in the capital and a few elsewhere such as Galkayo. Journalists fled abroad in record numbers due to insecurity and threats, with Somalia ranking near the top of global exiles for journalists. Reporters Without Borders cited 2012's death toll as the main reason behind its placement of Somalia at 175 in its 2013 Press Freedom Index of 179 countries, an eleven-point drop in ranking from 2011.

Federal Government of Somalia (2012-present) The Federal Government of Somalia was established in August 2012, representing the first permanent central government in the country since the start of the civil war. A federal parliament was formed and a new provisional constitution was adopted. Government courts were set up for the first time in many years.

2013

In January 2013, senior Radio Dalsan reporter Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim was detained in the capital after interviewing an alleged victim of sexual assault, and tried on charges of insulting state institutions and coaxing false testimony out of the interviewee. The two were convicted by a local court in early February, with both their cases later the same month overturned by an appeals tribunal and the apex court due to lack of evidence. Media outlets were suspended temporarily during political disputes and criticism of security forces could still draw retaliation.

In 2013 there were efforts to improve press mobility and security by Somali government forces who were assisted by AMISOM soldiers. They concurrently conducted several large sweeps in Mogadishu, seizing weapons and arresting 1,700 and 730 suspected Al-Shabaab associates during two separate operations. According to the CPJ, the number of slain journalists had dropped significantly by the end of 2013, with only four reporters killed during the year. For the first time, the federal authorities also established a task force to investigate allegations of journalist harassment, and facilitated talks between domestic and international media representatives for the drafting of a new Somali media law.

2014 In 2014, deadly violence against journalists continued in Somalia, with multiple media workers targeted by non‑state actors and militia groups. In several regions, journalists were shot, attacked, or faced assassination attempts while reporting, reflecting the ongoing threat from armed groups and insecurity. Veteran journalist Yusuf Ahmed Abukar was killed on 21 June 2014 in Mogadishu, freelance journalist Abdirisak Ali Abdi was killed by gunmen in Galkayo on 18 November 2014. Several other journalists survived targeted shooting attacks in the capital and elsewhere throughout the year.

2015