The symposium held in Jowhar city, Hirshabelle State on January 12, 20202 was significant priority necessary to open dialogue and agreement between the security agencies and the media and other major state institutions with common strategy to manage the safety and security of journalists.


The key participants in the symposium were the managers and journalists working for the various media outlets operational in Jowhar city, Hirshabelle State.


Moreover, the other main participants of the meeting were Captain Mohamed Siyad Ali (Anjeh), the commander of Police Station of Jowhar city , Mr. Abdullahi Ga’al Mohamud, the Attorney General of Hirshabelle State, Mohamed Abdikadir, the Attorney General of the first degree Military Forces 27th Division Court of Hirshabelle State and Mohamed Hassan Kulmiye , Director General of the Ministry of Information.

The main aim of the symposium was to institute confidence-building system and professional journalistic processes to facilitate debate and discussion between the security agencies and media, promoting greater understanding and remove mistrust and mutual suspicion in order to improve and create an environment conducive to safety of journalists, access of information and freedom of expression.


In his opening speech, Mohamed Abduwahab, the Secretary-General of the Somali Media Association (SOMA) said "SOMA is conducting the symposium after realizing the relations between the security agencies and the media in Jowhar city has been delicate. As result, Radio City FM has been closed down, journalists detained and the owner Shaashaa has fled the city and noticed there is priority need to initiate confidence building between the security agencies and media sectors.”

He further pointed out it is fundamental human right to seek for and receive, information held by 
Public organizations and government bodies, it is therefore very important that the security agencies allow journalists to carry out their duties freely by providing information that the public requires to know.

Mohamed Hassan Kulmiye , Director General of the Ministry of Information. said"The safety of journalists can be assured when our security agencies and the media understand their respective roles.”

During the session of the symposium, the security branches and the media has discussed and debated on the relations between the security agencies and the media, and how to address the issue that lead to the closure of the Radio City in Jowhar city.

In the panel discussion sessions, the participants were taken through thematic topics on: Strengthening Security Agencies and Media relationships, Improving communication and access of information, Development of Freedom of Expression and ensure the safety of Journalists, How to increase the role of the national authorities, legislative and judiciary in addressing the access of information and freedom of expression.

The Journalists were given an opportunity to interact, ask direct questions and comments regarding their safety and security with the police commander, the attorney general, ministry of information and other officials at the gathering. The key question posed focused on the challenges they encounter during news collection in the city of Jowhar of Hirshabelle State.

In conclusion, the following suggestion and outcome of the symposium was reviews and presented:-
• The security agencies and the media must have full cooperation 
• Any complaints against the media should be passed through legal process 
• The media should work with the security agencies in community development by taking part in community awareness raising 
• The journalists should respect the ethics of the media

The symposium event was closed by Mohamed Abduwahab, the Secretary General of SOMA who appreciated the participants for their open discussion of key issues affecting media freedom and access to information.

On the other hand, before conducting the symposium sessions, a special meeting for the media and SOMA Secretary General has been held during which the journalist reported the main challenges they are experiencing and how to address those constraints.

Source: SOMA