Metro

Somali journalists decry government’s restrictions, arbitrary arrests

Published

2 years ago

December 24, 2022

Journalists in Somalia have lamented what they described as government’s restrictions on their profession as well as arbitrary arrests which is coming from significant military offensives against the al-Shabaab extremist group.

The Somali government last month banned journalists from giving prominence to rebel groups’ activities and vowed to clamp down on media platforms which publishes contents without submitting them for approval before publication.

The government directive also mandated that journalists reporting on al-Shabaab’s activities should either go to the scene or abide by authorities’ restrictions.

Media organisations in the Horn of Africa have, however, expressed concern about the new directive which came from the office of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, while journalists have denounced the order, insisting that submitting content for government approval would obstruct editorial independence and the public’s right to know.

Following the directive, media houses in the country have been raided while journalists have been arrested and detained for publishing contents without approval.

In a recent incident, police in the central state of Hirshabelle detained four media personnel in Beledweyne for reporting that al-Shabaab attacked rural areas after local militias fighting them withdrew over pay issues.

At a joint press conference on Saturday by the Somali Journalists Syndicate, the Somali Media Association and Somalia Mechanism for Safety of the Journalists, condemned the raid and demanded the journalists’ immediate release.

“State security personnel shouldn’t use the continuing security operations as a justification to impose restrictions on press freedom.

“The president’s communication office issued a new order to local news outlets on Saturday demanding they submit their content for permission before any broadcast. We all refused,” the secretary-general of the Somali Media Association, Mohamed Osman Makaran, told journalists at the press conference.

Related Topics:Al-Shabaab Arrests Featured journalists Restrictions Somalia

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Metro

EU launches initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria

Published

35 minutes ago

November 15, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The European Union (EU) has launched an initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly in the northwestern parts of the country.

Mrs. Tobi Ransomed, who is the consortium lead, disclosed this during the launching of the “Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in North West Nigeria Program” (ABEP), held in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State, on Thursday.

While declaring the event open, Ransomed noted that the high rate of out-of-school children in the region required a holistic approach from all relevant stakeholders to ensure these children reached their potential.

Speaking further, she said the ABEP three-year pilot program would be implemented through Save the Children International, PLAN, and Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAG) across twelve local government areas in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States.

“Data from Save the Children International (SCI), has shown that 10% of the world’s out-of-school children are in Nigeria, with over 10 million primary school-age children not in school. Approximately 25% of girls and 10% of boys in the country have been victims of sexual violence,” she stated.

“The program aims to increase access to safe, quality, and inclusive alternative and accelerated education programs for 324,000 young girls and boys, as well as 32,400 persons with disabilities, supporting their transition into formal or non-formal education.

“This project plans to increase access to livelihood opportunities, vocational education, and green job opportunities for 60,000 youths and 6,000 persons with disabilities, with 20,000 beneficiaries in each participating state.

“The overall objective is to contribute to the empowerment of the poorest, underserved, and most marginalized population groups, including women, girls, and youth, by providing access to quality, inclusive, gender-sensitive, and conflict-sensitive education in northwestern Nigeria with a special focus on Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States,” she stated.

Metro

World Bank pledges $3b to support Zambia’s development goals

Published

19 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The World Bank Group has pledged to avail Zambia with approximately $3 billion to support the country’s development goals under the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2025-2029, with nearly half of the funds already disbursed.

World Bank Country Manager, Achim Fock, who made this known at the CPF launch at the Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka on Wednesday, outlined the global lender’s focus areas, which included enhancing jobs, human capital, and climate resilience.

Fock highlighted that $200 million had been approved to strengthen Zambia’s social protection programs, including the Refugee and Host Community Project.

He also expressed optimism for upcoming approvals, including the Climate and Economic Resilience Financing and the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector.

Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, who also spoke at the event, noted that 2.3 million Zambian households have so far benefited from social protection interventions such as the Cash for Work Programme, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives amid crises like the recent drought.

Musokotwane further reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives during times of crises such as the recent drought.

“More than two thirds of the Zambian population was affected by the drought. It was the government’s view that the first priority was to save lives,” Musokotwane stated.