Eight journalists have been killed and over 30 others injured in Somalia since 2016, a United Nations (UN) report has stated. The report, launched on Thursday by the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), says Al-Shabaab remained the main perpetrator of killings and injuries against journalists and other media workers in the horn of Africa nation.
Michael Keating, the head of UNSOM said the number of armed attacks against members of the Fourth Estate decreased — thanks to intervention efforts by the Somali government. The report noted that the number of journalists and other media workers killed decreased by 27 per cent compared to January 2014-August 2016.
Despite this positive result, the report says the number of people arrested and detained on charges related to the exercise of freedom of expression increased by 70 per cent. The report accuses some of the regional states in the country for carrying out arbitrarily arrests against 94 journalists and other media workers. “Somalis cherish freedom of expression. It is an essential part of their culture. It is vital for all Somali citizens to be free to express their opinions, especially as the country prepares for the 2020-2021 elections,” the UNSOM head said: “For freedom of expression to become a reality, Somalia must guarantee the independence of the media, bring media legislation in line with the Provisional Federal Constitution and regional and international human rights standards, and repeal laws criminalizing the dissemination of ‘false news’.”
The UN says 19 media outlets (seven TV stations, five radio stations, five websites and two newspapers) were either closed by federal or member state authorities, suspended or blocked for broadcasting news, or alleged affiliation with Al-Shabaab, or dissemination of ‘false news’ considered to be endangering national security.
The report attributes this spate of violations to the November 2017 presidential elections, expressions in support of Somali unity, and the Tukaraq conflict between “Somaliland” and Puntland in May 2018. The UN called for swift implementation of measures to protect journalists and other media workers, and the prosecution of perpetrators of violations against media workers and political actors. The UN also wants the Somali Federal Human Rights Commission to be established.
