Somalia: Somali government launches strong FM radio

MOGADISHU (Mareeg)—Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government has launched strong FM radio (Radio Mogadishu) that can be listened in Mogadishu and its outskirts.

The radio attracted more Somali audiences who could not afford to get balanced news and programs from the local independent radio stations in Mogadishu because they are forced to broadcast the propaganda of the Islamist militants.

Building of information ministry

The radio started its news coverage in a surprise way by broadcasting the news of the rebels and the government alike and also broadcasting the voices of the complaining civilians who did have the chance to talk about the abuses of the Islamist rebels against them.

Somali information minister, Dahir Mohamud Gelle, who is also the owner of the independent Holy Quran Radio in Mogadishu, said Radio Mogadishu would broadcast the news of the government and the Somali people.

Some of journalists who announced they were leaving the profession as journalists in June this year restarted their profession in Radio Mogadishu again.

The journalists left the profession when gunmen killed, Shabelle radio director, Mukhtar Mohamed Hirbale, in a stronghold area of al Shabaab militants in Bakaro market in Mogadishu on 7 June 2009.

Mr. Gelle said the government was planning to made Radio Mogadishu stronger and reach all Somalia.

Many people in Mogadishu welcomed the starting of the radio and said they were happy to hear the voices of prominent journalist they used to listen.

There are about 12 independent radio stations in Mogadishu, but they are forced to call al Shabaab as “Mujahideen” and the radios can not broadcast the assassinations of prominent people in Mogadishu and the abuses against the civilians by al Shabaab militias.

Most professional journalists fled from Mogadishu and sought asylum to neighboring countries of Kenya, Djibouti, and Uganda.

A spokesman for the Hizbul Islam rebel group threatened Sunday the remaining journalists in Mogadishu and accused to them of being siding to the government.

The rebels are demanding from the journalists to call the African Union soldiers as infidels and the government soldiers as apostates these days.

Somalia is one of the most dangerous courtiers in the world for journalists to work. Six of them were killed this year alone.