Mogadishu, Somalia – The Acting Director General of the Ministry of Information, Nasir Husein, who also serves as Director of Administration and Finance, on Sunday officially opened a vital training workshop in Mogadishu aimed at strengthening journalists’ ability to combat disinformation and fake news across Somalia.
The weeklong training brings together 32 journalists from different regions of the country and is jointly organized by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) with support from the Government of Australia. The program focuses on sharpening participants’ skills in identifying, verifying, and countering false information that undermines public trust and fuels social division.
In his opening remarks, Husein commended the initiative, emphasizing the crucial role journalists play in protecting truth and accountability in Somalia’s evolving media landscape.
“Disinformation not only misleads the public but also weakens the foundations of peace and democracy. Journalists must be equipped with the tools to challenge it,” he said.
NUSOJ Secretary-General Omar Faruk Osman underlined that the defense of truth and professionalism in journalism is central to safeguarding media credibility and fostering national unity. He encouraged participants to see the training as a step toward building a more ethical and responsible press that can resist manipulation and misinformation.
Joining virtually from Nairobi, Australia’s Ambassador to Kenya and Somalia, Jenny Da Rin, reaffirmed her government’s continued partnership with Somalia in promoting media freedom and integrity.
“Supporting Somali journalists in their mission to deliver factual, verified information is key to building public confidence and supporting democratic progress,” she said.
The training comes at a time when Somalia’s information ecosystem faces increasing challenges from social media-driven disinformation campaigns, often linked to political polarization and security concerns. Participants expressed optimism that the knowledge gained will help them become more effective defenders of truth in their communities.
As the workshop continues, organizers hope it will set a precedent for long-term cooperation in strengthening media resilience against misinformation, reinforcing the role of journalism as a cornerstone of Somalia’s democratic and social stability.