"The Ministry of Information shirked to have genuine, open, inclusive and transparent law making process. By colluding with sweetheart individuals of the Ministry just to rubber stamp and calling it consultations is a sham. Developing national laws on the basis of cronyism and favoritism is obnoxious. By doing so the Ministry only shows its lack of commitment to upholding freedom of expression” added Osman.

NUSOJ calls for proper, participatory and transparent consultation process with all relevant stakeholders that would give legitimacy and broader support to this important piece of media legislation.

"We call on the council of Ministers not to approve the proposed text of the media law and the government should consult with important stakeholders including those living outside of the capital in the formulation of the media law. Unless these unjustly restrictive provisions are struck out from media law and in the proposed text, they remain an obstacle to exercising freedom of expression and media rights” stressed Osman.

NUSOJ urges Somali journalists and freedom of expression advocates to get united against the proposed media law as its stands a renewed effort to curtail media freedom through draconian media law.