Mogadishu, May 16, 2024 – The Somali Mechanism for Safety of Journalists (SMSJ) network is perturbed and concerned over the process that the Somali federal government established the National Media Council which was completely against the country’s media law. The media council that was passed by the cabinet of Somalia on March 2024 does not fully represent the independent media and Civil society in Somalia since the selection process for the members of the council has not met the requirements and procedures required as per the media law which reads as Article 14.1 indicating the Media Council will consist of 9 members.14.1. B) Government 3 members with one female.
1.T) Private Media 3 members
2.J) the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) 3 members (Human Rights Commission, Women Associations, and Somali Lawyers Association)
3. The members that could join the Media Council will be members from the academics, and media experts selected for their experiences, talents, honesty, and integrity
4. 14.3. This important clause indicates that for the Council to fulfill its duties, it is to be independent of politics and government interference, institutional interests and special groups, and conflicts of interests that may come to the person who becomes a member and the work of the council.
5. 14.4. The formation of the Somali Media Council could come through consultation with the Minister of Information, Media Associations, and the Chairman of the Civil Society Organizations (CSO).
6. 14.5. The appointment of the Somali Media Council will be valid with the decision of the Cabinet of Ministries after the proposal of the Minister of Information, and signed by the President and issued in the Official Gazette.
SMSJ network and its members are proposing and appealing to the federal government of Somalia to accept the complaints of the media unions and Journalist in the country who are fully protesting against the controversial media council while also proposing to rebuild the National Media Council and comply with Article 14 of the Somalia Media Law
In addition, SMSJ is enormously worried about the massive protests held by media unions and directors of independent media houses, and Journalists in Mogadishu and elsewhere in the country who have shown their perspective towards the media council. In this regard, SMSJ is requesting from President of Somalia his Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud not to put his final signature on the national media council and consider the demand of the independent media and unions.
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