London / HornCurrent – The BBC has dismissed Muxyadiin Ahmed Rooble, the Editor of the BBC Somali Service, after years of controversy, internal crisis, and widespread loss of public trust in the broadcaster’s Somali-language programs.
Muxyadiin, who joined the BBC in 2020, became widely associated with poor leadership, lack of creativity, and consistent suppression of staff. His tenure was marked by growing discontent inside the newsroom and sharp criticism from Somali audiences across the Horn of Africa and the diaspora.
According to internal sources, the decision to remove him followed hundreds of formal complaints filed by staff members, as well as serious concerns about editorial judgment and programming quality under his leadership.
One of the most damaging moments came in May, when the BBC aired an interview with Somali Region President Mustafe Muxumed Omar (Cagjar). During the program, Cagjar claimed that no civilians had been killed in Dawacley and that Jigjiga’s prisons were empty—remarks that sparked outrage among Somali communities who accused the BBC Somali Service of whitewashing government abuses.
The backlash led nearly 5,000 Somali academics and community members from the region to sign a petition demanding accountability from the BBC. The petition, formally submitted to the organization’s top leadership, directly called for Muxyadiin’s removal.
During his tenure, nearly 20 senior Somali journalists resigned from the service, citing censorship, harassment, and the erosion of editorial independence. Many of those who left were respected figures in Somali media, whose departure further damaged the credibility of the BBC Somali Service.
The BBC has not yet announced who will replace Muxyadiin, but media observers say the move could mark a turning point for the Somali Service, once regarded as a trusted and authoritative news source in the Horn of Africa.
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