Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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Journalism in Somalia: Choosing Between Two Evils

By WardheerNews 

May 3rd is the World Press Freedom Day as designated by the United Nations. It is a day in which both governments and their nationals are reminded of the inalienable right of the freedom of press and freedom of expression which are enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

For the last few years, Somalia has been celebrating May 3rd.  But there is a new dimension to this important day. Instead of addressing the issue of protecting the press and journalists, the Somali government has issued a decree that puts more burden on the press. The Somali chief of intelligence and security, General Abdirahman Mohamoud Tuuryare, announced on May 3rd that, effective immediately, mass media must call Al-Shabaab (which means Youth) a new name, UGUS (Ururka Gumaadka Ummadda Soomaaliyeed) which stands for the Union of Annihilating the Somali Nation).

Free press
No press Freedom

There is no denying that the Al-Shabaab terror group is a clear and present danger to Somalia, its people and the neighbouring countries. Therefore, it is important for the Somali Federal Government (SFG) to provide a comprehensive military, political, economic and social plan that will eradicate the radical group and save the Somali populace.

The question that begs for an answer is: Will calling the Al-Shabaab a name coined by the SFG in the press solve the country’s security meltdown?

It is unfortunate that the Somali government, which is engaged in an all-out propaganda war against Al-Shabaab, wants to enlist Somalia’s independent press as an ally. It is neither the function of the press nor its responsibility to be a mouthpiece or a tool for the government in its war against the terror organization. The job of the press is to report to the Somali public what is happening in the country without taking any side.

It is tragic that the Damul Jadid-controlled government and its inexperienced cadre of intelligence officials would rather prefer to deal with Al-Shabaab’s propaganda than engage in coming up with viable programs that will protect the country. The very idea of changing the name of the anti-government opposition in the media originated and barrowed from the administration of the Somali region in Ethiopia which has been calling the clan based ONLF (the Ogaden National Liberation Front) a name of its own manufacturing: UBBO (Ururka Bahdilka iyo Baabi’nta Ogaadeenka) meaning “The Organization of Torturing and Destroying the Ogaden”.

The independent press that operates in Somalia, and especially in Mogadishu, which has long been in constant danger, is now in a critical dilemma: Does it operate under fear from Al-Shabaab’s periodic targeted assassinations or face government wrath and incarceration if it does not call Al-Shabaab “UGUS?”

It’s as if the naïvetee of the security chief had suddenly decided to deflect the real problem on the ground, namely the frequent bombing of Mogadisho and its surrounds, and had come to the conclusion, when all else fails, this feeble and corrupt administration must dictate to the press. After all it is the easiest thing to do.

It would behove the Somali Federal Government—before issuing a regulation regarding the press—to think about it thoroughly and its ramification. Moreover, the stakeholders such as journalists, the public, members of the civil society and the law enforcement agencies should debate about the new proposed regulation.

Unfortunately, today the Somali press is between a rock and hard place.

WardheerNew
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