4 minute read
Somalia raises stakes on media in anti-terror campaign
from BBC MONITOR 29
Abdi Dahir
In a drive to counter the ideologies and radicalisation methods used by jihadists in Somalia, the country’s president announced in August 2022 that all necessary means would be used to counter the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabab group, including targeting its propaganda outlets, Somalia specialist Abdi Dahir writes.
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President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took power in May 2022 after a protracted electoral process. It was characterised by intense political rivalries that were exploited by jihadists to sow discord amongst politicians and the armed forces and to terrorise the public.
Mohamud previously served as president from 2012-2017. He returns with promises of peace and a fierce campaign against al-Shabab, which now controls much of southern Somalia and has a presence across the East Africa region.
In December, Mohamud told African leaders in Washington that his administration was raising public awareness of the dangers of al-Shabab’s ideologies, and mobilising communities to counter the group’s narratives and radicalisation methods.
Not only is the media being aggressively harnessed for counternarratives against jihadism, there is also a fierce crackdown on proShabab media, which the Information Ministry says is part of "an all-out war" against the group.
For journalists, the “all-out-war” can be a double-edged sword. The government’s recent ban on covering the group’s activities has raised concern about press freedom in a country that has traditionally ranked poorly on global media freedom indices.
At the same time, journalists face threats from al-Shabab for upholding the ban.
New TV channel launched
On 23 November 2022, the government launched a new TV channel called Somali National TV Daljir (SNTV Daljir ) to combat militant propaganda
President Mohamud (right) at the launch of the SNTV Daljir station whose remit is to counter militant propaganda
SNTV Daljir
The state-run channel said it was part of a “direct war against the group’s propaganda and misinterpretation of the sharia”. It added that its programming would focus on military activities, including operations against al-Shabab.
Suspension of social media accounts
Hundreds of pro-Shabab social media accounts have been suspended
Shortly before the new TV channel was launched on 7 November, the government suspended over 500 social media accounts sympathetic to al-Shabab and banned news websites affiliated with the group. The suspension of social media accounts followed an 8 October government order to Somali telecom firms to block al-Shabab-affiliated websites.
Ban on al-Shabab media coverage
Independent Somali media outlets and journalists have been instructed not to publish news about al-Shabab or cover its activities. The authorities argue that disseminating "extremist ideological messages" will "endanger national security" but journalists’ unions say the ban is a threat to media freedom.
The Federation of Somali Journalists (Fesoj) and the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) described the request as ill-thought-out and warned that it could “unduly restrict otherwise legitimate expression and press freedom in the country”, but the Somali government has remained firm.
On 11 October, SJS’s secretary general, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin was arrested. According to the Information Ministry, Mumin, who had openly criticised the ban on local reporting on al-Shabab, was detained “on security-related charges”. He was freed on 13 February but re-arrested on 23 February in a hotel in Mogadishu.
The new directive echoes a 2015 government order – again under President Sheikh Mohamud – for journalists to refer to al-Shabab as "Ugus" – an acronym in Somali for "the group that massacres the Somali people''. Private media outlets, however, ignored the order and continued to report on al-Shabab activities despite the threat of closure and other penalties.
Al-Shabab’s reaction
Al-Shabab has ordered journalists to flout the ban on using their propaganda content and warned internet providers not to block its affiliated media outlets.
Regional troops were deployed in Somalia to stem al-Shabab’s expansion
GAEL GRILHOT/AFP via Getty Images
Al-Shabab spokesman Ali Dheere has threatened journalists who obey the government
al-Kataib Foundation
Al-Shabab operates a sophisticated media machinery to disseminate its propaganda and radicalisation messages. It uses various multimedia formats including a mix of audio, text and video materials, which are then distributed through affiliated websites and social media platforms.
Its media wing, Al-Kataib Foundation, regularly produces slick videos, audio and images to accompany claims of attacks. It promotes so-called public outreach initiatives – including providing residents in al-Shabab strongholds with food aid, and sharing its ideology.
These messages seek to legitimise al-Shabab's activities and undermine attempts by the government to assert its authority.
As of late January, despite the government’s announcement, al-Shabab’s websites remain online and affiliate radio stations continue to broadcast, indicating that the authorities may not have the capacity to implement their directive. Meanwhile, the militants still control vast parts of central and southern Somalia.
Abdi Dahir is a BBC Monitoring Horn of Africa specialist with expertise on Somalia
