Somali Media Fraternity welcome Somali Government’s Decision to Deport two foreigners in Support of the Unity of Somali Journalists

Mogadishu, Nov 4, 2014-The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), an independent journalists union that represents legally the Somali journalists and the Somali Independent Houses Association (SIMHA), an association that represents more than 30 media houses (print, television, radios stations and online media) in Somalia welcomes the Somali government’s move in deporting two foreigners (A Ugandan and a Ghanian nationals) purport to be trainers from IFEX on Monday morning November 3, 2014 – as they tried to hold unnoticed media activities, aimed to disrupt the unity of the Somali media – in support of the unity of the Somali journalists and their leadership.

Somali Journalists hold a protest last Friday in Mogadishu calling for the Somalia’s ministry of information and the security institutions to halt the media activity, which Somali journalists deemed a threat to the unity of the Somali journalists. On Saturday, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and Somali Independent Media Houses Association (SIMHA) wrote official protest letters to the Somali Ministry of Information and security institutions requesting to a halt to the said activity, which was an attack against the Somali Journalists and the media fraternity at large.

The Somali’s deputy minister of Information, Hon. Abdullahi Olad Roble on Saturday called for an investigation to the alleged media activity and foreigners claiming to be media trainers and are planning to hold a journalists’ conference in Mogadishu, which the Somali ministry of information have not been pre-informed.

The Somali Independent Media Houses Association (SIMHA) and the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) welcome the Somali government response to their request in support of the unity of the Somali journalists and the media fraternity at large. Somali journalists and the media representatives are united against any attack.

“We are glad the Somali government stood up and defend the wishes of the Somali journalists in line with the Somali Laws” Hassan Ali Gesey, Director of SIMHA said, “The Media stations SIMHA represents are members of NUSOJ and I call for all international media organizations to respect the Somali Journalists and their leadership and respect the Somali laws.”

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists, Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim praised the Somali Ministry of Information and the Somali Security services for responsibly responding to our call by showing the government’s commitment in protecting the Somali journalists and media from any outside intervention.

“We welcome the Somali government’s decision to deport the foreigners trying to create confusion and conflict within the Somali media through unknown media activity.” Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said.