Somalia Media Forum Opens Amid Press Freedom Concerns

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A conference dubbed the National Strategic Communication Forum 2026 opened in Mogadishu on Monday, with Somalia’s term-expired Federal Government saying the gathering will discuss the future of the country’s media, government-media relations, social media, artificial intelligence, journalistic ethics and what authorities describe as misinformation and disinformation.

The two-day forum, running from September 7–8 and organised by the Ministry of Information, is being held under the theme “Shaping Somalia’s Media Future in the Digital Era.” Authorities say it is intended to improve government-media relations, strengthen communication coordination and build public trust.

The conference comes at a particularly tense political moment. The mandates of federal institutions have expired amid disagreement over their continued legitimacy, while relations between Mogadishu and several Federal Member States have deteriorated. Armed and political confrontations are unfolding in parts of the country, while some regional administrations have virtually no political relationship with Mogadishu.

The forum also comes amid concerns raised by organisations defending journalists and freedom of expression over the operating environment for Somalia’s independent media.

On August 30, the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) published an investigation documenting what it described as fraudulent copyright claims, removal of independent media content from social-media platforms and restrictions imposed on journalists’ accounts.

SJS also reported allegations that journalists’ names and critical content had been forwarded to the Ministry of Information and the National Communications Authority (NCA), and that Facebook had been contacted in efforts to have certain content removed.

In April, SJS separately raised concerns over reports that government officials had discussed measures against critical journalists and media organisations. Some of the media outlets involved subsequently told the journalists’ group that they had received threats from senior officials.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) also raised concerns in June over provisions in Somalia’s draft Penal Code dealing with “false or misleading information,” defamation of public institutions and online expression. The union warned that such provisions could threaten press freedom and freedom of expression.

Against this backdrop, discussions at the Mogadishu forum concerning misinformation, social media and government-media relations are likely to draw particular attention over how any emerging communication framework would distinguish between the government’s strategic communications objectives and the independence of the media.

The conclusions and recommendations from the two-day gathering are expected to provide further indications of how the term-expired Federal Government intends to approach its future relationship with Somalia’s media sector.

I can also make this into a tighter Garowe Online English version with a sharper headline and opening paragraph.

GAROWE ONLINE