The Prohibition on Media Coverage of the Somali Parliament is Inadmissible and Needs Immediate Reversal
MOGADISHU, Somalia – In a fierce lambasting, the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) blasted the newly enforced ban on journalists hindering their reportage from the Lower House of the Federal Parliament. This crackdown marks yet another attempt to stifle the freedom of the press in Somalia, a calculated move to muzzle those who dare speak out on the often overlooked tension betwixt Egypt and Ethiopia in the region.
On the 6th of September, a communique from the parliamentary media director landed in the inboxes of journalists via WhatsApp, sharply prohibiting them from interviewing members of parliament or recording their customary briefings post-sessions. The stringent message, penned by a media chief nestled in the Speaker’s Office, read: “All media entities operating within the People’s House are hereby informed that press conferences within and around the Hall’s premises are strictly forbidden. Moreover, conducting interviews in these locales is now prohibited.”
Just days following, on September 9th, the cacophony of dissent from opposition lawmakers rippled through the People’s House. Multiple MPs, during a press conference inside the Parliament, characterized the ban as a blatant attempt to silence voices of dissent. No less than three MPs minced no words, lambasting the regulation as a direct threat to free speech and the expression of opposing government views.
After the combative press briefing, the parliamentary media director wasted no time in urging media outlets to abstain from airing the opposition’s damning remarks. Nevertheless, Radio Risaala’s management held its ground, broadcasting the MPs’ statements in defiance of the gag order.
By September 11th, the consequences of defiance had made themselves clear. Abdukadir Mohamed, a reporter, and Mohamed Said, a cameraman, both with Radio Risaala, were thwarted from entering Parliament. Queries for clarification pointed back to Radio Risaala’s decision to broadcast the contentious remarks as the cause of the blockade.
In a separate development on September 10th, Speaker of Parliament Aden Mohamed Nur (Sheikh Aden Madobe) convened a meeting with select Mogadishu media directors. Two attendees recounted the meeting to SJS, reporting that the Speaker underscored the media blackout on parliamentary coverage pertaining specifically to opposition MPs’ comments about the Ethiopia-Egypt issue, specifying that this media muzzle would persist for a few weeks.
Adding fuel to the fire, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with a chosen cadre of local media directors on September 12th, believed to be handpicked based on clan ties. Attendees disclosed to SJS that the President solicited their allegiance against factions he termed as “enemies of his administration,” pushing the media to unite behind the government amid simmering tensions with Ethiopia and its purported backers.
This clandestine meeting unfolded a mere two days following a public address by Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen) in Baidoa, expressing solidarity with Bakool region denizens. Last month, residents of Hudur and Wajid, key towns within Bakool, voiced their ire over the reported Egyptian military deployment and the conspicuous withdrawal of Ethiopian peacekeepers from their areas.
“The unrelenting siege on independent journalists in Mogadishu and overt manipulation of media narratives erode the bedrock of press freedom. Journalists bear the right to uphold impartiality in contentious issues and should never be coerced into compromising their integrity and independence in reporting,” denounced SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.
“We demand the immediate cessation of restrictions levied on journalists reporting from the Lower House of Somalia’s Federal Parliament. It’s imperative that the government safeguard journalists’ rights to report transparently on parliamentary activities, enabling the public’s right to remain informed about parliamentary affairs,” Mr. Mumin adamantly insisted.
