FESOJ and VIKES train 25 Journalists and 10 Police officers on freedom of expression, safety of journalists, and public order in Galkayo ahead of Somalia elections

The two training co-organized by Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ) and the Finnish Foundation for Media and Development (VIKES) with funding from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland kicked off in Galkayo on Tuesday 27 October, 2020.

The objective of the training Journalists and Police Force on freedom of expression, safety of journalists, and public order aims at building the capacity of security forces to uphold citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and information by improving journalist safety. Its goal is to establish more professional relationships between security forces and journalists conducive to a better environment for freedom of expression for all citizens.

During the training facilitators of the training emphasized the security forces to be more cognizant of their legal obligations to protect media professionals from violent actions by any group and to allow the free exercise of their profession, and to be more engaged in reducing impunity for attacks against journalists. Lessons of the training were referenced UNESCO Training Manual “Freedom of Expression and Public Order” which was developed to provide security forces with both practical and theoretical tools.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Deputy Governor of Mudug Region Mohamed Hassan Waloore said that the training was of special importance because it brought together journalists and police officers who each group has a specific duty and still it is so necessary to work together.

The Mudug regional police chief, Colonel Mumin Abdi Shire, said the media sometimes report raw cases which under investigation, sometimes in a way that is too different from the realties they have and investigated, and called on journalists to co-operate. He said from their side they welcome closer co-operation with the media at all times.

Journalists and police officers had positive debates with all of them openly discussing their concerns and how to find a solution.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the two-day training, FESOJ Secretary General Mohamed Moalimuu commended both the police and journalists for their open discussion and said the aim was to improve the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity since for many years Somalia is the top of the world in the countries where those who kill journalists go unpunished. 

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