Somali media boycotts president's 'gibberish' talk over deteriorating relations and media freedom

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Somali media boycotts president's 'gibberish' talk over deteriorating relations and media freedom

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – Local media stations in Mogadishu collectively boycotted a public talk delivered by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Jazeera Hotel on Wednesday night, where a select group of loyalists and civil servants had

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Online poster for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's public event on December 27th, despite local media's collective boycott of the occasion.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – Local media stations in Mogadishu collectively boycotted a public talk delivered by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Jazeera Hotel on Wednesday night, where a select group of loyalists and civil servants had gathered.

The decision, led by eight television and 10 radio stations, stemmed from what media representatives described as "deteriorating media freedom and worsening relations” with Villa Somalia.

The government-owned SNTV broadcasted the event, organized by the Chinese-influenced public relations company. However, other media outlets refused to attend or cover the event where the president answered public questions, expressing frustration with Villa Somalia’s behavior towards independent media.

"The boycott came from our frustrations with Villa Somalia’s behavior in the independent media, which has been deteriorating recently,” explained Abdirahman Mohamed of Hiraal media.

The sentiment was echoed by Kaab TV representative Hanad Ali, who asserted, "He [President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud] does not want to be grilled with real questions about the situation on the ground. All his talk is gibberish.”

The media boycott extended beyond Mogadishu, spreading to numerous institutions across the country.

Media representatives highlighted not only the strained relationship with Villa Somalia but also the deteriorating press freedom in the country. They criticized the president for disseminating misinformation to both the public and the international community.

"The media houses decided to convene a meeting discussing the deteriorating behavior of Villa Somalia soon,” stated Jowhar online editor Abdiaziz Hassan.

The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) welcomed the boycott as a stand for media freedom and a challenge to what they deemed as the autocratic behavior of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Mumin emphasized, "Attacks on journalists and the issue of impunity have not been resolved. The president and his prime ministers, as well as cabinet members, were on the front to attack journalists. No single person was held accountable.”

In a separate response, members of the Mogadishu public praised the media’s decision. Bajaj taxi driver Abdulkadir Ali Nur expressed his frustration with the president and his family’s alleged corruption.

"Every day we are nearing the corner by hearing how Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his family members are plundering public resources while nearly half of the country’s population is facing hunger. It is good the media says no to his nonsense and lies. I am totally fed up with his corruption and incompetency,” remarked Abdulkadir.