Published by participants in the  Certificate in Journalism program

of the African Virtual University-Indiana University of Pennsylvania Partnership.

The African Star

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Somaliland journalists talk about the role of the mass media in their country

When we talk about media we generally mean newspapers, radio and television.

The media of Somaliland established in early 1947,when first radio built in Hargeisa. 

Later newspapers appeared in Somaliland 1950s. Among those early newspapers were Al-Umma,Al-Liwa, 

Qarni,Lifriiqiya,Al-Saraaha, all they were in Arabic. English Language  newspapers followed, such as, war-Somali, 

side{Somali News},Hargeisa Herald Tribune 

and so on.

 Soon after independence 1960,these newspapers disappeared, because the military regime who took power banned them.

In 1991,when military regime was overthrown, and Somaliland broke away from  Somalia, small newspapers began to be seen 

in many regions of Somaliland. Radio Hargeisa  was rebuilt, and the first independent television was established in Hargeisa.

Unfortunately, the majority of these newspapers disappeared because of lack of  resources.

The surviving ones  are Jamhuuriya, Haatuf, Maandeeq and Ogaal these are all daily. The Republican, Somaliland 

Times, and Horn Tribune are all weekly English. Haatuf-Al-Arabi,and Qarni-Lifruqiya, are Arabic weeklies.

Media Roles:

Since rebuilding of this nation started from zero, the media in Somaliland change from  time to time, and today its functions is a concrete.

Dennis Pollhill, who was the head of U.S.A mission, and who came in Somaliland in 2002,to observe the referendum of Somaliland constitution, 

said his first impression was the freedom  of press.

After his mission, Pollhill said the development of the mass media, compared well to many  African countries.

Other foreigners and members of the public also offer opinions on the media in Somaliland, but do the media give the 

population the information they need or do they cover large, urban and rural areas?

It is fair enough to say the media do not provide the population the information they need.

The report was published by Somaliland Centre for Peace and Development, SCPD. Last year the report 

praised the role of the mass media. However, it concentrates on political and issues in the 

urban  areas. This report was a research made by SCPD on how media in Somaliland 

take part rebuilding of the country. In this research the media in 

Somaliland focus on political issues, news events foreign and urban issues. But they  

rarely cover social issues, public interest issues, environment, human rights, agricultural  and livestock sectors.

The SCPD commented in their report, that role of the radio Hargeisa in the country has a coverage that 

is  limited in Hargeisa area. 

The report accused government of not doing enough 

and for restricting plans to establish an independent radio in the country.

Adam Jibril, a lecturer at Hargeisa University and who used to work for the Saudi Gazette, agrees  

with report of SCDP. He said that the newspapers lack the stories that inspire 

the community and make them to participate as well as stories that make government  accountable.

Adam  mentioned some  stories which inspired him. Last year one of the daily newspapers in 

Hargeisa {Jamhuuriya},observed and monitored secretly, how the officials and ministers 

come to work, how early and how long they’re in the office. They monitored this for 

a week. When they published the public knew that most ministers don’t come their 

offices regularly, or they stay few hours. A few ministers got a clean sheet. That story worked, 

and two weeks later we heard that the president who addressing his cabinet 

meeting referred to this story.

If this kind of story applied to administration and other public institutions, it would motivate and 

Effect changes a lot.

The other areas, that the media doesn’t cover are issues of public interest, rural area and the 

roles of humanitarian agencies, who are accountable no one.

The publishers and the editors of the newspapers actually give different responses to these 

kinds of critics. They agree that they concentrate in urban areas. 

for example: Ahmed Du’ale the editor of Haatuf newspaper, which is one of most popular in 

Hargeisa, said “one could say that we concentrate in urban areas,but we cover many 

issues of public interest”. 

Du’ale  agrees that they don’t cover much about areas of agriculture, rural areas and 

the livestock. However he told the importance of this area.

Haatuf was established four years ago,but, it has a large of circulation.

The leading and the oldest newspaper, Jamhuuriya, published many stories of public 

interest, it is well known for it’s cartoon dhanxiir,[a double faced man).

Hassan said,chief editor of Jamhuuriya,said “we know,we have a lot to go, we try to 

provide our readers stories that inspires them”.

Hassa who was many times arrested and jailed by government, said “We reported a lot 

of stories such as human rights, corruption, political and police brutality, and we got 

jailed”. He also said  they publish every month Report of Human Right, which 

they include in their newspaper as inserts.

Hargeisa TV, has a significant role, its audience are increasing from time to time, but 

coverage is limited in Hargeisa.