Media, The Hand That Rules Somaliland

By Abdirahman Ahmed Ali

My last journey to Hargeysa, I spoke with different Somalilanders in different cities and states, subsequently I discovered that Somaliland Diaspora are more informative in local news than those in home. This clearly shows that current TV and Radio in Somaliland are under-performing.

Government of Somaliland should know the media including press, radio, screen, and the far-spread magazines rule the countries internationally and government should be prepared to face the challenge. The average citizens of Somaliland follow the news through view and audio media only due to rate of illiteracy. The main question is what will happen if your citizens listen and follow up the media of your enemies, will they turn against their own government or will they support their enemies!!!!!!!!!

The straining media of Somaliland enabled anti-Somaliland groups in else where in the world to remote control our citizens in Somaliland, even as their own elected government stands helpless to provide better media coverage in the country. Somaliland TV and Radio with weak bandwidth don’t cover even Capital Hargeysa, and citizens frequently loose the signal of the national radio. Today, BBC with its anti-Somaliland chiefs is the major news source in the country with FM channel that enabled citizens to listen while even driving in Hargeysa streets. Somaliland is free and democratic nation and no monopoly is allowed, but unfortunately the government of Somaliland failed to merge the competition with other radio stations.

Media can be used for education and to lead citizens to success, media education can help young people to sports and cultural knowledge. Media education is not about learning the right answers; it’s about consuming media images with an active, critical mind and asking the right question. In other hand, it can be very dangerous if your enemies lead your citizens through their media and if you let them do that, they may brainwash your citizens, and lead them against your, which will end up into disaster.

Government of Somaliland should look around, we are in an age when cable and satellite subscribers can routinely surf more than 100 channels and anyone with a fast Internet connection can download more online content in a day than he or she could view in a lifetime, our government could not even able establish single TV and Radio that can introduce Somaliland to international community. Somaliland needs to express its style of democracy and governance, and this can be achieved by establishing strong TV and Radio that can reach at least neighboring countries.

Privatization of Public Media is another option, so citizens will do business with media. A handful of companies now own more than half of all media in the world and number of private companies in media sector is booming day after day. The world is passing through an age of Media conglomeration. Somaliland citizens will open more Broadcasting companies like Radio and TVs in Somaliland, if and only if the government amends the law that blocks them from doing so. Hardworking Somalilanders can fight back to save their nation from anti-Somaliland and BBC attacks, which can damage the integrity of the country.

My last journey to Hargeysa, I spoke with different Somalilanders in different cities and states, subsequently I discovered that Somaliland Diaspora are more informative in local news than those in home. This clearly shows that current TV and Radio in Somaliland are under-performing. Majority of those I spoke with, ensured me that BBC is major source of news in the country. Majority of citizens mostly in eastern states complained against straining national Radio that can not transmit even national news to them.

God Bless Somaliland

We all stand united.

Abdirahman Ahmed Ali

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