Thursday, 1, October 2026 {HMC} Independent media outlets have been prevented from covering the elections that began today in the Hirshabelle State areas.
The Somali Election Commission has barred independent media from providing live coverage from polling stations where the elections are taking place today in Hirshabelle.
The decision has affected media coverage of the election process, preventing journalists and independent media organizations from reporting directly from polling stations and covering developments related to the electoral process.
Some journalists working in Hiiraan Region, as well as Hiiraanweyn, one of the most widely followed media outlets in the Hirshabelle areas, are among those who were denied access to cover the elections taking place across Hirshabelle.
Independent media plays an important role in election coverage, particularly in informing the public, providing information about the voting process, and monitoring developments at polling stations.
So far, no official explanation has been provided regarding the reasons for restricting independent media from covering the elections. The decision has raised questions about access to electoral information and the role of the media in reporting on the electoral process.
