Jowhar, 18 August 2025 – The workshop on Media Ethics in Election was officially concluded today in Jowhar, the capital of HirShabelle State. The two-day training brought together journalists from various media outlets operating in the region.
The workshop was jointly organized by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Federal Government of Somalia and the Ministry of Information of HirShabelle, with the support of the United Nations Office (UNTMIS). Its main objective was to enhance journalists’ knowledge on election coverage while upholding journalistic ethics and electoral regulations.
The Chairman of the Journalists Association in Middle Shabelle Region, Mr. Abdirahman Hussein Waddani, speaking at the closing ceremony, praised the importance of the training in strengthening media professionalism during election periods. He emphasized that the workshop came at a critical time and reiterated that journalists are the backbone of public awareness, urging them to responsibly fulfill their duties.
The Director of the Strategic Communication Department of the Federal Ministry of Information, Mr. Abdishakur Ali Ahmed, stated that this workshop was part of a series of training programs aimed at strengthening the understanding of the media regarding elections in the country. He also thanked the journalists who benefited and encouraged them to use their skills responsibly.
“This training is similar to the ones we previously held in Mogadishu, Baidoa, and Dhusamareb. Including Jowhar, a total of 85 journalists from both private and state-owned media at federal and state levels have benefited. Our goal is to strengthen the role of the media in ensuring peaceful elections. We thank the United Nations Office in Somalia (UNTMIS) for supporting these trainings, as well as the Federal Member States that collaborated with us in their implementation,” said the Director of Strategic Communication.
The Director General of the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism of HirShabelle, Mr. Yasin Ahmed Mahmoud, also thanked the Federal Ministry of Information for their role in advancing journalists’ skills and acknowledged the support of the United Nations Office in Somalia (UNTMIS) for making the workshop possible. He urged journalists to apply the knowledge they gained and share it with their colleagues in their respective media institutions.
The Jowhar training marks the fourth workshop of its kind held in the country, following previous in Mogadishu, Baidoa, and Dhusamareb. These efforts aim to strengthen the role of the Somali media in supporting transparent, peaceful, and credible elections.
