GAROWE, Somalia – 14 July 2026 – The First Instance Court of Garowe District on Sunday held its first hearing in the case of journalist Suways Jama Mahmoud, widely known as Suways Gacayte, who has been detained for amost two weeks in Nugaal Central Prison.
The hearing attracted significant public attention and was attended by members of the Puntland Parliament, representatives of the Garowe District Council, media organizations, journalists, and members of the public.
During the proceedings, the Nugaal Regional Prosecution Office presented several charges against Suways, including allegations of incitement, personal violations, defamation of government institutions, and the dissemination of information allegedly inconsistent with public morals and ethics.
However, Suways’ defense lawyer challenged both the charges and the legal basis of the prosecution’s case, arguing that the accusations do not comply with Puntland law or the applicable media regulations. The lawyer further maintained that Suways’ arrest violated both the Puntland Constitution and the Puntland Media Law, which requires complaints against journalists to first be referred to the Puntland Higher Media Council before any criminal proceedings are initiated.
The defense requested that the court dismiss the case on the grounds that the arrest and detention were unlawful.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the presiding judge requested that the defense and media organizations provide documentation confirming Suways’ professional status as a journalist. The court indicated that it would decide at the next hearing whether to proceed with the case or to uphold the defense’s legal objection. The court indicated that it would decide at the next hearing whether to proceed with the case or uphold the defense’s legal objection.
The court hearing came days after journalists in Garowe staged a protest outside the Garowe Court building, warning against what they described as attempts to fabricate accusations against Suways Gacayte and calling for justice, due process, and her immediate release. The demonstrators emphasized that journalism is not a crime and expressed concern over the growing pressure facing independent journalists in Puntland.
The detention of Suways Gacayte has generated particular concern among advocates for women’s media freedom. As a female journalist known for her critical reporting and street interviews, Suways is among a small but growing number of women journalists working in Somalia’s challenging media environment, where women often face additional barriers, including gender-based intimidation, online harassment, threats to their safety, and discriminatory treatment.
According to SOMWA’s recent monitoring and findings published in The State of Women’s Media Freedom in Somalia reports, women journalists continue to face disproportionate levels of harassment and abuse, particularly when reporting on governance, accountability, and public affairs. The arrest and prolonged detention of Suways therefore raises concerns not only about press freedom but also about the shrinking civic space for women journalists and their ability to participate safely and equally in public discourse.
The Somali Media Women Association (SOMWA) continues to monitor the case closely and reiterates its concern over the prolonged detention of Suways Gacayte. SOMWA has previously condemned her arrest and called on Puntland authorities to respect media freedom, uphold due process, and ensure that journalists—particularly women journalists who already face heightened risks—are not subjected to arbitrary detention for carrying out their professional duties.
SOMWA urges Puntland authorities to guarantee a fair and transparent legal process, respect national and international commitments protecting freedom of expression, and ensure that women journalists can perform their work free from intimidation, harassment, or retaliation.
