Jowhar, 17 August 2025 – A workshop jointly organized by the Federal Government of Somalia’s Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and the HirShabelle Ministry of Information, with the support of the UN Office (UNTMIS), was launched in Jowhar. The training aims to enhance journalists’ understanding of election coverage in line with media ethics and the country’s electoral regulations. Twenty journalists from various media outlets in Jowhar, the capital of HirShabelle State, are participating.
Abdirahman Hussein Waddani, Chairman of the Middle Shabelle Journalists’ Association, speaking on behalf of the journalists, welcomed the training, noting that it comes at a crucial time as the country heads towards elections.
Abdirahman Ahmed Hussein, Director of the Federal Ministry of Information’s State Relations Department, stated during the opening that this training is part of a broader effort to strengthen the media’s role in the electoral process, adding that similar workshops have already been held in Mogadishu, Baidoa, and Dhusamareb.
Yaasin Ahmed Mahmoud, Director General of the HirShabelle Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, officially opened the training. He expressed his gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Information for their role in developing journalists’ skills and to UNTMIS for their support in making the workshop possible. He urged participants to put into practice the knowledge gained from the training.
This workshop is part of a national program aimed at strengthening the capacity of Somali media so that they can play a meaningful role in covering credible elections in accordance with journalistic ethics, professional principles, and electoral laws.
