The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) issued a report on 12 March 2008, which declared the country’s new Media Law (passed 8 December 2007 by the Transitional Federal Parliament of Somalia) short of meeting “international standards and principles of democratic media law.” The law, the second of its kind since the military government collapsed in 1991, is less severe than its antecedent. However, the report indicates at least 17 articles that lack clarity and predictability. Above all, the Media Law strays shy of fully encouraging a vibrant and open press.

NUSOJ identified a list of problem areas that need to be addressed to avoid the continuation of harassment, arrests, and other curbs on press freedom. Under the law the Ministry of Information would oversee all national and foreign media, challenging the autonomy of the National Media Council. According to NUSOJ, soft censorship in the news media and governmental interferences would also increase alongside the discouragement of the private media.

In the report, NUSOJ urges the international community to press the transitional government to review the law and make the necessary changes to align it with international laws of press freedom.

For more information, please contact: nusoj@nusoj.com