Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald)
Beyond the Headlines: The Somali Region’s Silent Crisis
As the global community commemorated World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd, honoring the indispensable role of a free press in democracy, the Somali Region stood as a grim emblem of repression under President Mustafa Cagjar’s administration. This day, meant to champion journalistic integrity, instead served as a reminder of the systemic erosion of free expression and independent media in the region.
The dream of a vibrant independent media in the Somali Region has been decimated. Over 15 media outlets have shuttered under government pressure, leaving state-controlled SRTV as the sole television broadcaster in the capital, Jigjiga. SRTV, widely perceived as a propaganda arm of the regime, monopolizes the airwaves, stifling dissent and depriving citizens of impartial news. This deliberate silencing has created an informational vacuum, where critical discourse is replaced by state-sanctioned narratives.
The human toll of this crackdown is immense. Journalists face relentless harassment, surveillance, and threats, severely hindering their reporting. Some have been forced into exile, fearing persecution or imprisonment, while others bravely remain, operating in a climate of terror where even routine journalism risks reprisal.
The administration’s playbook for stifling dissent includes arbitrary arrests, invasive surveillance, and legal harassment. Security forces routinely detain journalists without charge, while vague anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws are weaponized to criminalize investigative reporting. Newsrooms face abrupt raids, equipment seizures, and forced closures – a clear strategy to paralyze independent journalism through fear.
President Mustafa Cagjar’s government stands accused of orchestrating this assault on press freedom. Advocates argue that the crackdown is not incidental but a calculated bid to consolidate power by controlling public discourse.
The silencing of the press has dire societal ramifications. Without independent media, citizens lack access to information critical for holding power to account. Misinformation proliferates, civic engagement withers, and marginalized voices are erased. This erosion of transparency breeds corruption and unchecked authority, undermining the region’s democratic foundations.
As the world marked World Press Freedom Day, the grim reality in the Somali Region serves a rallying cry. The international community – governments, press freedom organizations, and multilateral bodies – must act against this suppression.
The crisis in the Somali Region is a microcosm of a nationwide struggle. Press freedom is not a privilege, but a pillar of democracy and its defense demands unwavering resolve. On this World Press Freedom Day, let the Somali Region’s journalists remind us that the pen, when free, remains mightier than the sword.
Source- Jigjiga Mirror
