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Sunday December 3, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) – The Somali Media Association (SOMA) concluded a two-day Panel Discussion meeting for the stakeholders on freedom of expression, safety of journalists and access to information in Dhusamareb town, the administrative capital of Galmudug State on Friday.
Forty key participants, including journalists, media house directors, members of civil society organizations (CSOs), police, judiciary officials, representatives from the Ministry of Information, and the Galmudug Journalists Association (GALJA), attended the discussion meeting.
The stakeholders’ dialogue meeting aimed to enhance mutual understanding and mitigate distrust, with the overarching goal of advancing freedom of expression, ensuring the safety of journalists, and facilitating access to information. Additionally, the meeting sought to foster robust professional relationships among journalists, the police force, and the judiciary, creating a more secure environment for journalists, media outlets, and the public’s freedom of expression.
During the meeting, Farah Omar Nur provided a brief report on international and regional regulations on conventions related to freedom of expression, safety of journalists, and access to information, emphasizing the specific provisions in Somalia’s constitution.
Mohamed Osman Makaraan, the Secretary General of SOMA, highlighted that the meeting was intended to improve media rights for access to information and foster better cooperation between the community, administration, and police.
“If the standard information reaches the media and is shared with the people, the problems in the society can be easily prevented; the priority is to find a working path between the Authorities, Journalists and the Media,” said Mr Makaraan.
On the first day, the panellists were Abshir Abdi Sheegow, Minister of Information; Abdisamed Salad Adan, Deputy Chairman of Dhuusamareeb Capital City Administration; Mustaf Salad Warsame, Deputy Commander of Dhuusamareeb City Police Station, and Mohamed Abdi, representative of the media, during the first day.
On the second day, the panel featured key panellists, including Elmi Ali Geney, mayor of Galgadud region, a judge from the appeal court, and Mohamed Osman Beeray, Secretary General of GALJA, focusing on the safety of journalists and their information.
In collaboration with IMS/FOJO, SOMA previously conducted a similar panel discussion meeting in October 2023 in Beledweyne City, Hirshabelle State.
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