Somali journalists have raised concern about the lack of respect from politicians ahead of the country’s scheduled elections in December 2020 and February 2021.
Early this week, Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) issued a press statement stating their growing frustrations at lack of respect from politicians.
SJS mentioned that journalists in the country have been grappling with increased censorship and intimidation from political leaders and the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS).
SJS’s Secretary General, Abdalla Ahmed Mumin, urged the government to stop using the new media law as a weapon with which to frustrate journalists.
Mumin said, “We have witnessed increased intimidation of journalists by politicians in government and the opposition as we head towards elections.”
He said that some of the politicians have declared that they would not allow voices critical of their moves and activities to thrive in the country or go scot-free.
Consequently, Secretary General Mumin has requested authorities to shelve the media law, which he described as “draconian.”