Over 100 Journalists Trained by NUSOJ and NIEBC on Election Coverage, Journalist Safety and Countering Disinformation

Over 100 Journalists Trained by NUSOJ and NIEBC on Election Coverage, Journalist Safety and Countering DisinformationThe National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), in conjunction with the National Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission of Somalia (NIEBC), has conducted specialized training for 102 journalists on professional election coverage, journalistic safety and countering disinformation and misinformation. The participants were reporters, editors and media practitioners, mainly from private and state media outlets in Mogadishu, representing 27 mainstream media houses registered to cover the Banadir regional local council elections.

A central focus of the training was direct engagement with the Electoral Commission, which enabled journalists to receive firsthand information on electoral guidelines, rules and procedures. Participants were briefed on how the electoral process is organised, how it unfolds on the ground and how journalists can cover elections professionally, independently and fairly while ensuring accuracy, balance and public interest reporting.

The training, which was held on 16-17 December 2025, also addressed the safety and security of journalists during election periods, which remain high-risk environments for media professionals. Sessions examined the responsibilities of authorities in protecting journalists, as well as the role of media workers in mitigating risks. Practical discussions focused on identifying and countering disinformation and misinformation before, during and after the elections, given their impact on public trust, electoral integrity and journalist safety.

Speaking about the outcome of the engagement, NUSOJ Secretary General Omar Faruk Osman said the training was timely and necessary. “When major newsworthy events are taking place and journalists and media houses are actively geared up to cover them, it is important to strengthen the professional capacity of local journalists, prepare them to safeguard their safety and security and equip them to identify, detect and counter disinformation and misinformation,” he said. He added that journalists must be able to reflect diverse and even opposing, views independently and fairly, without fear or interference and that access to accurate official information is essential to that responsibility.

Earlier today, the leadership of NUSOJ and the Somali Media Women Association (SOMWA) held a meeting with the Chairperson of the National Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (NIEBC), Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, to discuss concrete measures to guarantee journalist safety, security, and unfettered access to information. Following the meeting, the chairperson, flanked by the Somali Federal Police Commissioner and accompanied by his deputy and the Benadir Police Commissioner, publicly announced at a press conference that the safety and security of journalists are “fully guaranteed” and that they will have “unhindered access for journalists throughout the process”.