The bill was endorsed by the Lower House in July last year. After the approval of Upper House, the bill now awaits President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo to assent into law.

Speaking at the House Floor shortly before the bill was voted for, Senator Abshir Ahmed, the Deputy Speaker of Upper House (Senate) described as the media law as repressive. He warned that this law will make Somalia a dictatorship state.

"All the comments provided to amend this law were not full incorporated. Somalia should be a democratic state with media freedom,” the senator added.

Among the restrictive articles in the bill is Article 18 which requires all journalists in the country to be registered at the government database.

Minister of Information, Mohamed Abdi Hatir (Mareye) told lawmakers on Tuesday that the media bill was drafted in a very soft tone noting the significance of the law before the federal elections late this year.

"We have taken into consideration of other media laws such our neighbors and the Arab countries,”Mareye told the parliamentarians on Tuesday.

The Secretary General of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Abdalle Ahmed Mumin told the Horn Observer that several vague sections and restrictive articles such as Article 4 which bans publication of critical news reports will make this media bill the worst in the country.

"There are certain provisions that criminalize critical reporting such as Article 4 while others completely discourage media and journalists by imposing huge amount of money for obtaining license,” Mumin adds.

Mr. Mumin said SJS and other media stakeholders submitted written comments for consideration to the parliament but their efforts were hindered after powerful officials from the government pressured or threatened the lawmakers.

According to Article 11 of this bill, media managers and owners are required to declare their source of income and identify its management before applying license to operate while the law also imposes that a new media house must be in line of the National Plan and there is a need for it before getting registration.

In general the media bill tries to allow maximum power for the country’s Ministry of Information which according to this law will be mandated to appoint a 9-member Somali Press Committee.

(HORN OBSERVER)