Media Law Workshop Examines State of Freedom of Expression in Puntland

While Somalia’s semi-autonomous republic of Puntland has been spared much of the violence and chaos that have engulfed Somalia since 1991, journalists there have not been spared from violence and intimidation. Foreign audiences may see Puntland in the news as a base of piracy in the shipping channels of the Gulf of Aden and along the eastern coast of Somalia, but the region has been relatively stable with a functioning government and a notable media and civil society sector. Yet the media have not escaped intimidation and violence from those seeking to silence reporting that may challenge bases of power in government and the economy.

Given these challenges, media representatives from Puntland convened at a recent IREX-supported workshop to discuss challenges to press freedom. Participants committed to dialogue between the media and the government of Puntland on reforming the legal framework that supports media rights.  The workshop culminated in an agreement by participants to form a coalition of government, media, and civil society to begin the process of developing a legislative reform agenda that protects freedom of expression.

The workshop, “Establishing Dialogue on the Legal Framework Protecting Freedom of Expression in Puntland,” brought together representatives from the Puntland Ministry of Information, the Media Association of Puntland and independent media to discuss media law, the state of freedom of expression in Puntland and opportunities for legal reform in areas impacting the media. The event was organized and facilitated by IREX through its Supporting Media and Civil Society in Somalia (SMCSS) program, which is funded by a grant from the US Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.

Participants noted that the media and state of freedom of expression face numerous problems, including authorities’ grip on broadcasting, but several participants also acknowledged that the last election – which resulted in a new reform-minded administration in Puntland – opened up a window of opportunity for media freedom.

“To provide reliable information to the public in this time of hardship is a great challenge and has made the practice of journalism in Puntland a very difficult business. To date, not a single predator of press workers has been brought to justice. In addition, the media law does not protect the freedom of expression in Puntland,” Burhan Ahmed, secretary-general of the Media Association of Puntland, said.

Suleiman Said, Puntland’s Director of Information, challenged the assertion that the law left journalists vulnerable, “The media law protects freedom of expression in Puntland and so far the media in Puntland never experienced any torture or arrests from law enforcement bodies.”

However, all workshop participants agreed on a need to reform media law, particularly with regard to access to information, libel laws, protection of journalists, and print and broadcast regulation and licensing. The coalition of representatives from media outlets, the media association and the government to reform the law that was formed out of the workshop will work to develop a plan for tackling the necessary reforms and engaging broad sectors of media and civil society in the process.

The SMCSS program provides support to media to improve its professionalism, develop a democratic legal framework for the media, and contribute to the sustainability of media outlets operating in a difficult environment. The civil society component of the program supports civil society in its efforts to have its voice and issues heard by government authorities developing laws and policies to address Somalia’s development.