The media department of the Federal Parliament on Friday afternoon informed independent media houses that they would not be allowed to cover the Parliament session, which will take place on Saturday June 6th, 2020, confirmed the decision of the ban.

"The independent media houses were informed in the ban for tomorrow’s Parliament Sitting which is very important because the Parliament is supposed to debate on the election model and its timing,” Mohamed Abduwahab Abdullahi, the secretary general of SOMA said.


"SOMA which represents more than 30 independent media houses is very concerned on this decision and we call for the Somali Federal Parliament to allow the media and journalists to cover all Parliament Sessions,” adds Mr. Mohamed Abduwahab.

In October last year, the Lower House of the Somali Federal Parliament suspended independent media coverage on the Parliament on the pretext of limited space at the Parliament’s new offices but the decision was later reversed.

SOMA is also worried that this ban will lead to a total ban of independent media during the projected national elections in the country.

"Somali people are looking into the activities of the Parliament and the information about the elections. Therefore independent media has a great role to ensure that this information reaches the Somali public without any censorship,” Mohamed Abduwahab Abdullahi, the secretary general of SOMA concludes.

SOMA is an association under which at least 30 media houses based in Puntland, Galmudug , Hirshabelle, Banadir, Jubaland and South West of Somalia are united