Nation FM Radio journalists' membership launch event in Mogadishu on Monday, 17 May, 2021. | PHOTO/ SJS.
MOGADISHU, Somalia, May 17 2021 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) today welcomed 14 new member journalists from Nation FM Radio, becoming the largest number of journalists who have joined the union in a single day.
Nation FM Radio becomes the first local media house where all journalists join the union to guarantee the protection of the journalists’ human rights and the labor rights by ensuring that every journalist gets an employment contract. Employment contracts not only ensure job security for media workers, but also help put an end to the precarious work situation for journalists.
At an event in Mogadishu on Monday, SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin and Nation FM Radio Director Abdul Shakur Mohamud saw reporters, editors and producers of the radio station sign the union membership forms.
During the event, a renowned young journalist, Fa’isa Abdi Warsame was elected as a union representative for Nation FM Radio after defeating her male contester, Mohamed Nur Fanah with six out of 10 votes.
“Today is a historic day. We are here to announce that all Nation FM Radio employees have joined SJS. It is a victory for Nation FM Radio which has felt the importance of joining the journalists’ union. We believe that we are now better protected and that we can collectively defend our rights through the union,” said Nation FM Radio director Abdul Shakur Mohamud.
SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin (right) and Nation FM Radio Director, Abdul Shakur Mohamud (left) speak during the event on Monday, 17 May 2021. (PHOTO/SJS).
“We are pleased that SJS has accepted our participation in union activities after Nation FM Radio staff have met their requirements as full members of SJS,” added Abdul Shakur.
For his part, SJS General Secretary Abdalle Ahmed Mumin officially welcomed the new members, urging them to unite and work together to defend their trade union rights. Mr. Mumin also announced that SJS has started the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) process and is working with Nation FM Radio employees, other media houses and their employers to expedite the signing of the CBA to protect journalists’ union rights.
SJS Gender Secretary, Hinda Dahir (right) and SJS Labour Rights Secretary, Fathi Mohamed (left) congratulate Faisa Abdi Warsame (centre) shortly after he election victory. (PHOTO/ SJS).
“Today we have achieved one of the major goals of the trade union movement. SJS has always championed the protection of journalists— both freedom of expression and the trade union rights. While I welcome our new members— male and female— I want to say that your membership means a lot to SJS and to our press freedom campaign across the country. I encourage you to unite and defend your rights collectively,” said Mumin.
MUQDISHO, Soomaaliya 16 May 2021 – Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed Somali Journalists Syndicate – SJS wuxuu si adag u cambaareynayaa weerarka, handadaada iyo hor joogsiga ay maanta ciidan isugu jiray booliska Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya iyo kuwa Nabadsugidda iyo Sirdoonka (NISA) u geysteen koox suxufiyiin ah oo kasoo waramayey Taalada Daljirka Dahsoon ee magaalada Muqdisho, halkaas oo waalidiin ka cabanayey “carruur ay sheegeen inay ka maqan yihiin” ay ku dhigayeen dibadbax.
Ciidanka ayaa ku amray suxufiyiinta oo ka kala socday dhowr xarun warbaahineed inay goobta ka tagaan, oo ay joojiyaan shaqadooda. Qaar ka mid ah warfdiyeennada oo SJS la hadlay ayaa sheegay in askarta ay ugu hanjabeen inay xiri doonaan, qalabkana ka qaadan doonaan haddii aysan joojin shaqada ay suxufiyiinta ku guda jireen.
Taliyaha Booliska Degmada Xamar Weyne, Gaashaanle Sharma’arke Xasan Maxamuud iyo askari la socday ayaa u gacanqaaday weriye Fardowso Maxamuud Sahal oo ka tirsan Radio Kulmiye.
Sida ay SJS u sheegtay Fardowso waxay ku guda jirtay wareysiyo ay la yeelaneysay waalidiinta dibadbaxayey markii askarta ay ku billaabeen gacanqaad sababay inay dhulka ku dhacdo. Waxaa hadda Fardowso ka maqan agabkii iyo telefoonkii ay ku shaqeyneysay oo Taliyaha Booliska Xamar Weyne iyo askartiisu qaateen.
SJS waxay cambaareyneysaa weerarka ciidanka booliska iyo NISA lagu qaaday suxufiyiinta kasoo warameysay dibadbaxa Daljirka Dahsoon maanta. Waxaan si adag u cambaareynaynaa sida dhaqan-xumada ah ee uu ku kacay Taliyaha Booliska Degmada Xamar Weyne, Gaashaanle Sharma’arke Xasan Maxamuud. In loo gacanqaado oo la waxyeeleeyo suxufi – weliba gabar- waxay ka ka hor imaaneysaa dhammaan xeerarka iyo shuruucda dalka ee dhowrista xuquuqda muwaadinka iyo tan suxufiga.
“Taliyaha falkan geystay iyo askartiisu ma mudna inay booliska Soomaaliyeed ka sii tirsanaadaan. Waa in tallaabo deg deg ah laga qaado, lana marsiiyo anshaxmarin la eg dhaqankiisa cadowtinimada leh ee uu booliska Soomaaliyeed kula dhex jiro,” ayuu yiri Xoghayaha Guud ee Ururka SJS, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin.
“Ma jirto sabab askarta u ogollaaneysa inay beegsadaan suxufiyiin shaqadooda si caadi ah u gudaneysa. Waa inay joogsataa aragtida gurracan ee ciidamada amaanka loo adeegsanayo hor istaagidda suxufiyiinta. Saxaafaddu ma aha denbi,” ayuu sii raaciyey Xoghaye Mumin.
MOGADISHU, Somalia, 16 May 2021 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) vehemently condemns the beating, harassment and confiscation of equipment against Radio Kulmiye female reporter, Fardowso Mohamud Sahal during a public protest at Daljirka Dahsoon (The unknown soldier monument) in Mogadishu by police officers and members of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) today on Sunday 16 May, 2021.
The armed police and NISA officers first attacked a group of journalists who were covering the protest by parents of “allegedly missing” young men recruited by the Somali government and sent to Eritrea. Officers ordered journalists to stop their coverage and leave the area with immediate effect. Some of the journalists told SJS that they were threatened with arrests and confiscation of equipment by the officers should they not leave.
Hamar Weyne police commissioner, Major Sharma’arke Hassan Mohamud and accompanying soldiers then beat journalist Fardowso Mohamoud Sahal, who was covering the protest for the privately-owned radio Kulmiye.
According to Fardowso, she was beaten and thrown to the ground by Major Sharma’arke and his officers before confiscating her voice recorder and her phone. A live-streamed video on her Facebook showed officers approaching before her phone was snatched amidst live interviews with protesters.
SJS strongly condemns the acts of harassment, beating and confiscation of equipment carried out by the police officers led by Hamar Weyne police chief and other accompanying police officers. Somali Federal Government officials can not claim that they are going to end impunity for crimes against journalists if their own police officers are not held accountable for their attacks on journalists.
”Hamar Weyne Police commander, Major Sharmarke Hassan Mohamud and his officers who today beat, harassed & confiscated equipment of journalist Fardowso Mohamud Sahal should not continue to serve as a police officer. They should be disciplined for their cruelness,” Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the Secretary General of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) said.
“We call them to return the journalists’ equipment immediately. There is no any justification for attacking a journalist for simply doing his/her job. The Somali government must investigate this incident and punish the officers involved in the incident and stop the continued impunity against the journalists and the media in the country,” adds Mumin.
COMBINED PHOTOS: Raid on Radio Mustaqbal Mogadishu on 27 April 2021. | Photo/ Private.
MUQDISHO, Soomaaliya, 08 May 2021 – Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed (SJS) iyo Dalladda Warbaahinta Soomaaliyeed (SOMA) ayaa si wadajir ah u shaaciyay inay taageersan yihiin dacwadda ay gudbisay Idaacadda Mustaqbal ee ka dhanka ah Agaasimaha Hay’adda Sirdoonka iyo Nabadsugidda Qaranka (NISA), Fahad Yaasiin iyo Ku-xigeenka Agaasimaha Villa Soomaaliya, Cabdinuur Maxamed Axmed oo loo heysto weerarkii 27-kii Abriil lagu qaaday xarunta warbaahinta Mustaqbal.
Iyada oo sii mareysa qareennadeeda, Idaacadda Mustaqbal ayaa gudbisay cabashada sharciga ah oo si rasmi ah loogu diiwaangeliyey Xafiiska Xeer-ilaaliyaha Guud ee Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya Maalinta Xorriyadda Saxaafadda Adduunka ee ku beegneyd 03da May 2021.
Sida ku xusan dukumiintiga dacwadda oo ay arkeen SJS iyo SOMA, Radio Mustaqbal waxay ku eedeysay labada masuul: mudane Fahad iyo mudane Cabdinuur inay agaasimeen duullaankii rabshadda watay ee 27-kii Abriil 2021 ay ciidamsda sida gaarka u tababaran ee “Haramacad” ku qaadeen xarunta warbaahinta Mustaqbal. Sida ay diiwaangelisay SJS maalinkii weerarku dhacay, saraakiil hubeysan ayaa galay xafiisyada idaacada Mustaqbal iyo istuudiyaha oo ku yaalla aagga K4 abbaare 6:00 subaxnimadii Talaadada waxayna ku amreen shaqaalaha inay hoos u soo degaan iyagoo qori madaxa kaga hayey, halkaasoo ay ku garaaceen, kuna dhibaateeyeen tifaftiraha idaacadda Bashiir Maxamuud Yuusuf, ka hor inta aysan qaadanin kumbiyuutaro, qalabka keydka (Hard Drives), laptop-yada, taleefanno iyo kaamirooyin. Barnaamijyada raadiyaha ayaa hakad galay illaa subaxii dambe.
Mustabqal waxay cabashadeeda kaga codsaday Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud ee Qaranka inuu tixgaliyo cabashadooda, baaris ku sameeyo weerarka loo geystay, una gudbiyo dacwada maxkamada awoodda u leh. Idaacadda Mustaqbal ayaa sheegtay inay hayaan caddeyn ku filan oo ku saabsan eedeysanayaasha.
SJS iyo SOMA waxay taageerayaan Radio Mustaqbal iyo warfidiyeennadeeda ee baadigoobaya caddaaladda. Waxaan aaminsanahay in sida kaliya ee lagu joojin karo isla xisaabtan la’aanta weerarada iyo xadgudubyada ka dhanka ah suxufiyiinta iyo xarumaha warbaahinta ay tahay in maxkamad la soo taago denbiilayaasha – xitaa haddii ay yihiin saraakiil dowladeed oo awood leh.
“Weerarada lagu qaado warbaahinta iyo suxufiyiinta ayaa joogto noqday. Nasiib darrose, saraakiisha denbiyada ka gala suxufiyiinta iyo xarumaha warbaahinta ayaa si xor ah u socda. Weerarkii 27-kii Abriil lagu qaaday Radio Mustaqbal ee magaalada Muqdisho waa xadgudub weyn oo ka dhan ah xorriyadda saxaafadda ee Soomaaliya. Qofna sharciga kama sarreeyo, mana aha in denbiilayaashii galay falkan la cafiyo. Waxaan ka rajeyneynaa Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud ee Qaranka inuu ka dhabeeyo caddaaladda oo uu qaado talaabooyinka ku habboon si kuwa lagu helo denbigaan foosha xun ay u wajahaan maxkamadda sharciga,”ayuu yiri Cabdalle Axmed Mumin, Xoghayaha Guud ee SJS.
“Weerarka lagu qaaday idaacadda Mustaqbal, oo xubin ka ah Dalladda SOMA, ma ahayn weerar lagu qaaday idaacad keliya. Wuxuu ahaa weerar lagu qaaday xorriyadda saxaafadda Soomaaliya oo dhan. Waxaan taageersanahay dacwadda ay soo gudbisay Radio Mustaqbal waxaana rajeyneynaa in kiiska loo gudbin doono maxkamadda ay quseyso si caddaalad ahna loo dhageysan doono,”ayuu yiri Maxamed Cismaan Makaraan, Guddoomiyaha Dalladda Warbaahinta SOMA.
COMBINED PHOTOS: Raid on Radio Mustaqbal Mogadishu on 27 April 2021. | Photo/ Private.
MOGADISHU, Somalia, 08 May 2021 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and Somali Media Association (SOMA) jointly announce their support for Mustaqbal Media’s filing a lawsuit against the Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Fahad Yasin and Villa Somalia Deputy Chief of Staff, Abdinur Mohamed Ahmed over the 27 April raid on Mustaqbal Media.
Through its lawyers, Mustaqbal Media filed the legal complaint and was officially registered into the Office of the Attorney General of the Federal Government of Somalia on World Press Freedom Day on 03 May 2021.
According to the filing document seen by SJS and SOMA, Radio Mustaqbal accuses the two officials: Mr. Yasin and Mr. Ahmed of directing the 27 April 2021 violent raid on Mustaqbal Media by the Turkish-trained special police unit known as “Haramcad”. As documented by SJS, the armed officers entered Mustaqbal Media offices and studios in K4 area at 6:00am on that Tuesday and ordered the staff on duty to come down at gunpoint, where they beat and harassed radio editor Bashir Mohamud Yusuf before confiscating computers, external hard drives, laptops, phones and cameras. The radio’s programming was suspended subsequently until the next morning.
In its filing, Mustabqal Media has requested the Attorney General to consider their complaint, investigate it and refer the case to a competent court. Mustaqbal Media said they had enough substantial evidence against the defendants.
We, SJS and SOMA support our colleagues at Mustaqbal Media and its journalists in their quest for justice. We believe that the only way to stop impunity for the attacks and abuses against journalists and media houses is to prosecute the perpetrators— even if they are powerful government officials.
“Attacks on media and journalists have become the norm. Unfortunately, officials who commit crimes against journalists and media stations roam freely. The 27 April raid on Mustaqbal Media in Mogadishu remains a serious violation against media freedom in Somalia. Nobody should be above the law and the perpetrators of this crime should not be forgiven. We expect the Attorney General to expediate and take appropriate measures so that those found guilty of this heinous crime can face the court of law,” said Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the Secretary General of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS).
“The attack on our member Mustaqbal Media was not just an attack on a single radio station. It was an attack on the freedom of the media throughout Somalia. We support the case filed by Mustaqbal Media, and we hope the case will be referred to the relevant court and that it will be heard fairly,” said Mohamed Osman Makaran, the Chairperson of Somali Media Association (SOMA).
MUQDISHO, Soomaaliya, 03 May 2021 – Maalinta Caalamiga ee Xorriyadda Saxaafadda, Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed (SJS) wuxuu mar kale ku baaqayaa in la dhowro xorriyadda saxaafadda, loona oggolaado warfidiyeenka helitaanka macluumaad lagu kalsoonaan karo xilli ay badan yihiin wararka been abuurka ah iyo hanjabaadaha iyadoo aan sidoo kale dalbaneyno in lala xisaabtamo kuwa geysta dambiyada ka dhanka ah warbaahinta Soomaaliya.
Maaddaama adduunku u xusayo Maalinta Xorriyadda Saxaafadda Adduunka ee 3da May iyadoo halku dhigguna yahay “Macluumaadka oo loo adeegsado Danta Dadweynaha”, SJS waxay dib u eegis ku sameysay diiwaanka xadgudubyada ka dhanka ah xorriyadda saxaafadda ee Soomaaliya afartii bilood ee la soo dhaafay ee 2021.
Saxafiyiinta Soomaaliyeed waxaa markale la kulmayaan rabshado iyo weeraro ula kac ah oo ay kala kulmeen ciidamada ammaanka ee dowlada federaalka, dowlad goboleedyada iyo kooxaha hubeysan. Ka warramidda amni darrada, ismari waaga ka jira doorashooyinka u dhexeeya dowladda dhexe iyo dowlad gobolleedyada, warbixinnada eedeymaha musuqmaasuqa iyo xadgudubyada xuquuqda aadanaha ayaa khad cas u ah xirfadleyda warbaahinta. Warfidiyeenka doonaya inay soo tebiyaan arimahan inta badan waxay la kulmaan dhibaateyn iyo cabsi galin, qaar badanna waxaa lagu qasbay inay is-faafreebaan. Maadaama waddanku hadda ku jiro xilli kala guur ah oo aad u xasaasi ah, dhibaatooyinku way sii kordheen.
Laga soo bilaabo Jannaayo illaa Abriil 2021 oo keliya, waxaa la xiray 30 weriye, iyadoo laba ka mid ah la maxkamadeeyay halka saddex xarun warbaahineedna la weeraray. Dhammaan xadgudubyadan waxaa geystey ciidamada amniga sida Hay’adda Sirdoonka iyo Nabadsugida Qaranka (NISA), Booliska Haramcad, ciidamada amaanka ee dowlad goboleedyada Puntland, Galmudug, Koonfur Galbeed iyo HirShabeelle. Somaliland waxay xirtay lix wariye afartii bilood ee la soo dhaafay. Al-Shabaab ayaa sheegatay mas’uuliyadda dhimashada wariye Jamaal Faarax Aadan, halka ciidamada ammaanka dowladda ay toogteen oo dhaawaceen labo wariye oo waajibaad shaqo ku jiray.
Hanjabaadaha iyo weerarada ka imaanaya saraakiisha dowladda, shaqsiyaadka gaarka ah iyo al-Shabaab waa kuwo kudhowaad maalinle ah. Soomaaliya waxay wali heysataa derejadeedii foosha xumeyd oo ah inay ka mid tahay waddamada ugu halista badan ee suxufinimo looga shaqeeyo.
Helitaanka macluumaadka ayaa aad u xaddidan waddanka oo dhan. Xirfadleyda warbaahinta waxaa lagu dhibaateynayaa, lagana hor istaagay inay galaan dhismayaasha dowladda oo ay ka mid yihiin Aqalka Hoose ee Baarlamaanada Federaalka iyo xarumaha kale ee dowladda. Mas’uuliyiinta – ha ahaadeen heer federaal ama heer gobol – illaa hadda ma furin baaritaanno la xiriira dilalka iyo weerarro ka dhan ah suxufiyiinta iyo shaqaalaha kale ee warbaahinta.
Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed (SJS) wuxuu ugu baaqayaa dowladda federaalka iyo dowlad-gobolleedyada Soomaaliya inay ixtiraamaan xuquuqda xorriyadda saxaafadda sida ku xusan Dastuurka ku-meelgaarka ah ee federaalka. Dhowridda suxufiyiinta iyo xorriyadda warbaahinta waa tiir muhiim u ah u adeegsiga macluumaadka sida danta guud ku jirto.
“Saxaafadda xorta ahi waxay door muhiim ah ka ciyaartaa ku wargelinta muwaadiniinta arrimaha danta dadweynaha iyo la socodka tallaabooyinka dowladda heerarkeeda kala duwan ay qaadeyso. Markii warfidiyeenka loo hanjabo, la weeraro, la xiro oo xarumaha warbaahineed la weeraro waxaa taasi macnaheedu yahay in muwaadiniintu aysan xaq u yeelan doonin inay soo bandhigaan arrimo muhiim ah oo saamaynaya dhismaha dowladnimada iyo ku dhaqanka sharciga oo muhiim u ah dowladnimada Soomaaliya,” ayuu yiri ”Cabdalle Axmed Mumin, Xoghayaha Guud ee Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed (SJS).
“Munaasabadda Maalinta Xorriyadda Saxaafadda Adduunka, maanta waxaan mar kale ku celinaynaa baaqeena ah in la ilaaliyo saxaafadda xorta ah ee Soomaaliya.”
SJS waxay sii xasuusineysaa mas’uuliyiinta federaalka iyo kuwa maamul goboleedyada ee Soomaaliyeed waajibaadka ka saran sidii loo hubin lahaa in baaritaan dhab ah oo buuxa lagu sameeyo dhammaan kiisaska dilka weriyeyaasha, oo ay ku jirto dilkii sawir qaade Cabdirisaaq Qaasim Iimaan oo sarkaal boolis ah uu ku toogtay bishii Luulyo 2018 magaalada Muqdisho.
“Maalinta Xorriyadda Saxaafadda Adduunka, waxaan ugu yeeraynaa labadaba federaalka iyo dowlad-goboleedyada inay ka joojiyaan ciidamadooda amniga weerarada, xiritaanka, dhibaateynta iyo carqaladeynta suxufiyiinta ay ku hayaan. Saaxiibada caalamiga ah ee Soomaaliya waa inay u adeegsadaan xafiisyadooda wanaagsan cadaadis-na ku saaraan dhammaan madaxda heerarka kala duwan dowladda si loo hubiyo in dhammaan kuwa mas’uulka ka ah weerarrada, dhibaataynta, iyo hanjabaadaha ka dhanka ah warfidiyeenka lala xisaabtamo,” ayuu raaciyay Xoghaye Mumin.
Somali journalist Hassan Wali Abukar looks into his facebook account on his phone. | Photo Credit/ SJS.
MOGADISHU, Somalia, 03 May 2021 – Facebook has become a platform for online attacks, death threats including threats of beheadings against journalists in Somalia and their families amid an increase of hate speech, incitement to violence and calls for murder targeted to media workers and critics, a new survey by Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) has found.
SJS is also
concerned about the use of Facebook’s
Community Standard as an
excuse to block and censor
independent and critical reporting
by Somali journalists and media houses.
In the past six months, SJS interviewed 50 journalists and representatives from independent media outlets and content creators operating in Somalia, who described how they were censored and silenced by Facebook. Amid the mounting threats and out of fear some journalists have resorted to self-censorship. The perpetrators of these attacks include government employees and known officials, as per SJS investigations of more than 30 press freedom violation cases in the past six months. The Somali Federal Government also uses online trolling groups intended to manipulate social media, harass, intimidate and even threaten journalists and critics of the government. Journalists’ families were also targeted.
Unfortunately,
no action has been taken by Facebook so far despite promising
to react after complaints were raised.
Journalists interviewed said Facebook did not respond to them when they
flagged the threats on their live. Since mid-last year SJS has been in
contact with Facebook’s East
Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa team.
The Facebook accounts of 16 individuals – mostly journalists – were permanently deactivated or deleted in 2018 and 2019 alone after they published critical content on their accounts, as documented by Amnesty International in February 2020. There were also attempts to hack the Facebook accounts of five journalists, while the accounts of four others were compromised.
With the absence of fact checking system in Somalia, the spread of disinformation and propaganda on social media have increased to unprecedented level since the eruption of the 2017 Gulf diplomatic crisis. Editors and journalists interviewed by SJS said the rise of “fake news” and the proliferation of doctored narratives that are spread by humans and bots online are challenging the local media houses. With more than 34 percent active users in Somalia, Facebook has become the main platform for this disinformation campaigns.
Unable to fact check everything online, the local media houses and journalists are now among the victims. The most recent example is the reporting of a premature obituary of a popular female singer, who was still alive, by several media outlets last week causing painful moments for the singer’s family and friends. Again, the source of this fake death was a Facebook page which is still active.
“We are
facing a big problem. We
are in a war against disinformation.
Our reporters find it difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood. I
don’t think Facebook’s content moderators have the understanding what is
happening in Somalia,”said an
online journalist Mohamed
Jibril.
“Fake news on Facebook tricked me several times. The government and its Arab allies spread their own propaganda on social media. There is no way to distinguish between truth or falsehood. You can certainly see how Facebook has rapidly become the platform of choice for these groups,” said Halima Ali, a female radio producer in Puntland.
Attacks on the media and journalists
Last week, Somali police raided Radio Mustaqbal, tortured journalist Bashir Mohamud Yusuf and confiscated the station’s equipment. Coordinated online groups then begun attacking other media houses and journalists by publishing journalists’ names on Facebook and calling for beheadings. One Facebook page used by these groups is still active as of the weekend even after it has been flagged.
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“I was directly targeted with death threats. I reported to Facebook by filling its online complaint form, but unfortunately Facebook did not respond. Now I’m offline and I’m afraid to walk to my workplace because I’m too scared for myself and for my family,” said one affected journalist.
Women journalists
in Somalia are routinely subjected to sexual harassment and other
threats for reporting politics and criticism of the government and issues
related to the security
causing many of the female
reporters to refrain
from taking up certain assignments for
their own online safety.
“Facebook
and other social networking sites are not safe nowadays. After I reported the
recent clashes in Mogadishu, I
was immediately attacked online by trolls who sent a picture of my children and my home. I was shocked, I thought that
they would come and kill me that night,”
said a female journalist who works for a local TV station.
Al-Shabaab, the
federal government and Somali regional
states openly promote their content
including propaganda information
on Facebook. These campaigns include disinformation intended to discredit
political opponents, drown out opposing views, or undermine trust in the critical
news reporting by the journalists.
On 1 March this year, an online independent journalist Jamal Adan Farah was shot dead in Galkayo. A member of Jamal’s family told SJS that he had been receiving death threats on Facebook weeks before his death because he was “too critical to the government and al-Shabaab” on Facebook.
“The
threats on press freedom,
spread of hate speech through polarized voices and incitement to violence are very worrying trend. It is also shocking that these
activities are taking place on Facebook with very limited or no accountability. Already the biggest threat is felt
by Somali journalists,”
said Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the
Secretary
General of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), “We are very concerned that
Facebook is not a safe platform for journalists anymore.”
“On World Press Freedom Day, we urge Facebook to immediately review
its safety measures to ensure the platform becomes reliable for
journalists in Somalia. We also call for Facebook to make sure that it does not
suppress press freedom.
Facebook should tackle
the dangers
of disinformation and attacks
targeting Somali journalists who have
been operating
in unsafe
environment,” Mumin added.
Journalists walk to cover the scene of a car bomb on the Mogadishu-Afgoye road on 28 April 2021. | Photo/ Said Yusuf for SJS.
MOGADISHU, Somalia – On World Press Freedom Day, Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) once again calls for the safeguarding of press freedom and allow access to reliable information in an era of misinformation and threats as we also demand accountability for the crimes against journalists in Somalia.
As the world marked World Press Freedom Day with the theme “Information as Public Good”, SJS reviewed the record of violence against freedom of the press in Somalia for the past four months in 2021.
Somali journalists were once again subjected to violence and deliberate attacks by the security forces of the federal government, regional states and armed groups. Covering insecurity, the continued deadlock in federal elections and reports of allegations of corruption and human rights violations are key red line for media professionals. Journalists seeking to cover these issues often often face harassment and intimidation and many are forced to censor themselves. As the country is currently in a critical transition period, the problems have increased even more.
Attacks on press freedom in Somalia from 1 January – 30 April, 2021. (Source: SJS).
From January to April 2021 alone, 30 journalists were arrested, with two of them indicted and three media houses raided. All of these abuses were perpetrated by state security forces such as the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Haramcad Police, security officers of the regional states of Puntland, Galmudug, South West and HirShabelle. Somaliland has jailed six journalists over the past four months. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the death of a journalist, while government security forces shot and wounded two journalists on duty.
Threats and attacks from government officials, private individuals and al-Shabaab are almost a daily occurrence. Somalia still maintains its unenviable title as one of the most dangerous countries to practice journalism globally.
Perpetrators of attacks on press freedom in Somalia in 2021.
Journalists’ access to information is extremely limited across the country. Media professionals are harassed and blocked from accessing public buildings including the Lower House of the Federal Parliaments and other government organizations. Authorities— whether at the federal level or at the regional levels — continue to not initiate investigations into murders or attacks against journalists and media workers.
Somali Journalists
Syndicate (SJS) calls on the federal and regional states of Somalia to respect
the right to freedom of the press as outlined in the Provisional Federal
Constitution. Protecting journalists and media freedom is an important pillar
in cherishing information as a public good.
“Free press plays a vital role in informing citizens about public affairs and monitoring the actions of government at all levels. When journalists are threatened, attacked, detained and their media houses raided that means citizens will not have the right to raise key issues affecting state-building and rule of law, which are important for Somalia’s governance,” Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the Secretary General of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) said “As we mark the World Press Freedom Day, today we reiterate our call for protection of free media in Somalia.”
The SJS further reminds Somali federal and regional authorities about their obligations to ensure that thorough and objective investigations are made of all cases of journalist killings, including the murder of the cameraman Abdirizak Kasim Iman who was shot dead by a police officer in July 2018 in Mogadishu.
“On World Press Freedom Day, we call both federal and regional states to stop its security forces from attacking, detaining, harassing and obstructing journalists. Somalia’s international partners should use their good offices in pressing all levels of government officials to ensure that all those responsible for attacks, harassment, and threats against journalists are held to account,” added Mr. Mumin.
Somali journalists gather during an event in Mogadishu in February. |Photo/SJS.
MOGADISHU, Somalia, 1 May 2021 – On the International Labor Day 2021, the Somali Journalist Syndicate (SJS) calls for better working conditions for Somali journalists, as a new SJS survey shows precarious working conditions, low wages, a lack of employment contracts, while almost all respondents lacked occupational safety and health.
Over the past three months, SJS has spoken to 112 journalists across Somalia who have expressed how, like other professions, Covid-19 pandemic is having a negative impact on their earnings. From the onset of the outbreak in the country, media workers have been particularly vulnerable and many journalists have been infected by the infection, despite no deaths have been reported.
Source: SJS Survey conducted between 30 March – 28 April, 2021.
Some employers carried staff lay-offs and informed their media workers, including journalists, that they could not pay, while others were told to work without pay because media houses face unstable economic conditions resulting from the restrictions and the shrinking advertising market.
Most journalists interviewed, aged between 20 and 36, confirm that they are ready to stay in the profession, no matter how much they suffer, but expect their living conditions to improve.
Source: SJS Survey conducted between 30 March – 28 April, 2021.
“About 75 percent of the journalists surveyed identified insecurity, low pay, dangerous assignments and a lack of health insurance as the main challenges they face. Another major problem is the absence of permanent contracts that could provide significant legal protection against spontaneous dismissals, “said Fathi Mohamed Ahmed, SJS Secretary of Labour.
SJS survey found that journalists working in the regional states have poorer working conditions and receive lower salaries than those in the capital Mogadishu. “Journalists in the capital have access to more than one job opportunity and the media stations are able to receive advertising opportunities while all those circumstances are limited in the regional states,” said one female respondent in the South West State.
Female Reporters
“Female journalists have reported specific challenges. They are the lowest paid staffers in the media even if they have years of experience. Training opportunities are not many. Women reporters say they face some sort of discrimination from the general public who favor male reporters over female reporters when carrying out journalistic duties,” Fathi added.
SJS Gender Affairs Secretary, Hinda Jama and Radio Warsan journalist Shukri Bidhan during SJS visit to Baidoa, South West State Somalia. | Photo/ SJS.
Nearly 86 percent of journalists surveyed said they had moved from one media house to another several times in the past 12 months to seek better pay and more rights. Journalists are not entitled to any type of insurance and are not anticipating to get compensation if they are injured or killed in the performance of their duties.
As stated by more than half of the journalists we spoke to, the low-paid and unpaid journalists have witnessed stressful conditions because they were unable to support their own households.
Somalia does not have a statutory minimum wage and a new federal labour law, which could specify labour rights and employment conditions, is still in the draft stage.
Somali
Journalists Syndicate is negotiating with major media stations across Somalia
to enable a collective agreement for media workers to ensure that journalists
obtain proper employment contracts and end the precarious working conditions once and
for all. Similarly, SJS also calls for the
Somali Federal Ministry
of Labor to accelerate the Labour Bill and include minimum wage
legislation to ensure the protection of Somali journalists and other media workers in Somalia.
“Without
the labour
law protecting Somali journalists, the effects of the pandemic, lack
of additional resources or
emergency support for journalists to help them cope with during
crisis, make the
livelihood of journalists almost impossible,” Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, Secretary
General of the Somali Journalist Syndicate (SJS) said, “We call for the Ministry of Labour to speed up the draft
labour law, and at the same time we urge Somali media institutions to put
in place a mechanism that protects the rights of the working journalists.”
“Simple contracts are the key to preserving the rights of working journalists and end the current unstable employment conditions that exist in the media houses,” Mr Mumin added.
COMBINED PHOTOS: Raid on Radio Mustaqbal Mogadishu on 27 April 2021. | Photo/ Private.
MOGADISHU, Somalia, 27 April 2021 – Somali Journalists
Syndicate (SJS) strongly condemns the violent attack on the privately-owned
radio Mustaqbal Media, the beating of journalist Bashir Mohamud Yusuf and the confiscation
of radio equipment by members of Somali police “Haramcad” unit in Mogadishu on Tuesday
morning.
According to journalists and management of Mustaqbal
Media, the Turkish-trained Haramcad armed officers entered the radio premises in
K4 area at 6:00am on Tuesday and ordered the staff on duty to come down at
gunpoint, where they beat and harassed radio editor Bashir Mohamud Yusuf before
confiscating computers, laptops, phones and cameras. The radio was put off-air
subsequently.
“The Haramad police entered our building this morning. They beat me with the gun and I sustained bruises on my chest and back. When they saw my journalist Identification Card, one officer even cocked his gun and threatened to kill me. They entered the office and confiscated computers, laptops, phones and cameras,” Bashir told SJS.
Raid on Radio Mustaqbal by Somali police “Haramcad” unit in Mogadishu on Tuesday 27 April 2021. (Photo/Private).
Radio Mustaqbal has been covering the recent developments including gunfight and street protests between security forces backing the federal government of Somalia and military forces backing the opposition — who oppose president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo’s term extension — in Mogadishu since Sunday morning. K4, where the radio locates, is among neighbourhoods where both sides clashed on Sunday.
SJS has documented three other cases of journalists’ detention, beatings, threats and whose footage deleted in Mogadishu since armed clashes broke out in the capital on Sunday.
“We strongly condemn the violent attack on Radio Mustaqbal today and the physical assault on journalist Bashir Mohamud Yusuf. We call for the police and security officials to immediately return the equipment taken from the radio as we also call for an independent investigation into this violent attack,” Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the secretary general of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) said.
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