Somalia's state media to broadcast in Italian after 30 years

Italian ambassador to Alberto Vecchi [L] signs deal with Somalia's minister of info Osman Dubbe [Photo: State media]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali state media will start broadcasting in Italian, an agreement signed between Mogadishu and Rome states, reviving the cooperation which was suspended three decades ago after a civil war.

Before 1991, Somalia state media was broadcasting in Italian, her colonial master, with many publications also made in Roman. Italy colonized Southern Somalia before paving way for independence in 1960.

Information Minister Osman Abukar Dubbe on Wednesday said the Italian language will be introduced in the state media but did not disclose whether it will be used in education matters in a country dominated by the Somali language.

Dubbe, a close ally of the outgoing Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, signed an agreement with Italian AmbassadorAlberto Vecchi. This means the state media will soon start introducing Italian programs in subsequent broadcasts.

"Today [Wednesday] we have resumed the broadcast of the Italian language which has been absent from Somali media for the last 30 years. Italian ambassador to Somalia Alberto Vecchi and I signed an agreement today to resume the broadcast in Italian," he said.

The Somali National TV and other affiliate media will now introduce the language, he added. This comes as the term of Farmajo ended in February this year and seeking re-election in the upcoming presidential election.

The move to introduce the Italian language has been criticized with scholars insisting that it's not a national priority.

As this happens, Al-Shabaab militants on the other hand have been pushing to introduce the Arabic language across Somalia. Currently, the militants are promoting the language through school syllabus, in areas where they control.

GAROWE ONLINE