Somaliland 4th Media Summit kicks off in Hargeisa

The annual summit is organized jointly by the ministry of information and the association of Somaliland journalists.

The two-day conference brought together journalists from all over the country, thirty media houses, and government officials. It features panel discussions, presentations, and speeches by various stakeholders. The second day will also feature the announcement of Awke Media awards which has nine different categories.

The first day of the conference was attended by the minister of Information, the secretary-general of Waddani party, and the information secretary of UCID party.

The secretary of information of UCID party, Mr. Yusuf Keyse, accused the government of unprecedented suppression of free media. He stated that this government has incarcerated more journalists in two years more than the former government of Dahir Riyale Kahin.

“Kulmiye party did not fulfill its promises during the election campaign. During its two years in office, more journalists were detained than the entire eigh-years of President Dahir Riyale’s government. The media houses shut during these two years are more than those in Dahir RIyale’s government, ” Yusuf Keyse said.

The secretary-general of Waddani party, Khadar Hussein Abdi, acknowledged that the nation’s journalists operate under hard conditions. He lamented journalists’ limited access to information and poor capacity.

Khadar Hussein also urged media to self-regulate and warned them of the dire consequences of the government’s attempts to the securitization of their issues. He implored them to urge that drive and nub it in the bud.

Khadar Hussein then called on the minister of information to apologize for threatening media with permanent closure. Minister Mohamed Muse Dirie has earlier this year vowed that he will permanently shut down media houses.

“The other thing is the detention of journalists which has increased significantly in the past two years. In 2018 and 2019 since this government came to office. I have listened to the minister vowing that whom he detains will not be released. Minister, we live in a country of laws, ministers do not arrest people, it is the law that arrests people!!. Today with the presence of the press, I would like to ask him to apologize for his uttering. ” Waddani official concluded his speech.

The minister of information, Mohamed Muse Dirie, abstained from responding to the criticism leveled against his government and person.

The conference will continue for two days and will culminate Awke Awards which will be bestowed on the winners of nine categories.