Somalia to enact new national media bill

[RebelLion1]

MOGADISHU, Somalia Mar 10 (Garowe Online) - Somalia's national unity government will enact a new media bill which will establish a legal framework for relations between the independent media and the government, Radio Garowe reports.

Farhan Mohamud Ali, Somalia's new information minister, concluded an open discussion with journalists in the capital Mogadishu Monday.

"I praise Somali journalists everywhere they are and request their cooperation with the government so the country [Somalia] can return to peace and order," the Information Minister remarked.

Mr. Ali admitted that the independent media has played a pivotal role in Somalia in the post-1991 era, when civil war erupted and the rule of law disappeared.

While encouraging journalists to promote peace, he stated: "The government will soon enact the draft media bill and we ask that the media to hold monthly meetings with us [government]."

The new Information Minister also apologized for earlier comments attributed to the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Mr. Abdirahman Ibbi, saying: "I heard that a member of the government [Ibbi] threatened the independent media and I fully apologize for his comments."

Mr. Yusuf Ali "Farey," chairman of the National Media Council who attended the meeting with Information Minister Ali, welcomed the Somali government's proposal and indicated that the draft media bill will be completed before it is presented to parliament for ratification.

Somalia's flourishing independent media has played a key role in the Horn of Africa country during the civil war period, when Somalis across the country and the Diaspora stayed informed.

Sadly, Somali journalists have also been victims of the ongoing war and the country is considered Africa's most dangerous place for journalists to operate.

Two reporters have been killed so far this year already.

[Somaliman50]

great decision