President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) has signed the media bill into law.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Information issued a press release confirming the news.
The Somalia Media Bill is an amended piece of legislature that the House of Representatives (Lower House) and the Senate (Upper House) both debated and passed.
The Lower House approved it on July 8, 2019 while the Upper House followed suit on January 14, 2020.
Among other things, the new law safeguards the freedom of the country’s press.
Additionally, it has also established the National Media Commission (NMC).
Mohamed Abdi Hayir Maareeye, the Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, hailed the new law as “historic” and an “important milestone” for the media in the country.
Mahdi Mohamed Gulaid, the Acting Prime Minister, congratulated journalists in Somalia for contributing to the amendment of the law.