Djibouti Supports Launch of Somali Independent News Agency

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000547 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PROP KPAO KWWW DJ SO SUBJECT: Djibouti Supports Launch of Somali Independent News Agency ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: The Somali Independent News Agency (SOMINA) was officially launched in Djibouti on April 30 by the Djiboutian Minister of Communication and Culture, Ali Abdi Farah. In close coordination with Reporters Without Borders (RWB) and funded by the Doha Center for Media Freedom, established by the Emir of Qatar, SOMINA is headquartered in Djibouti and employs nine correspondents based in major urban centers throughout Somalia. Because SOMINA's charter and license with the GODJ prohibits broadcasting within Djibouti, SOMINA's reporting operations will be web-based and focused only on Somalia-related issues. SOMINA's stated mission is to provide fair, balanced, accurate, and objective reporting on Somalia issues, focused on state-building, peace and stability, human rights, and humanitarian assistance related news. ¶2. (U) PAO spoke with Omar Faruk Osman, the driving force behind the establishment of SOMINA. A reporter-in-exile from Mogadishu, Faruk is politically very active in the region and serves as the Secretary-General of both the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and the East Africa Journalists Association (EAJA),which is based in Djibouti. Working with Robert Menard, one of the founders and the former Secretary-General of RWB and the current Director-General for the Doha Center for Media Freedom, Faruk secured $120,000 from the Doha Center to start SOMINA. The six-person Board of Directors is comprised of three members of RWB (including the current Secretary-General),two members of NUSOJ (including Faruk),and the Africa Desk Officer for the Doha Center for Media Freedom. The Doha Center has only agreed to fund SOMINA for one year; however, the Dutch governmental agency that supports independent media operations, Press Now, has agreed to three additional years of financial support pending evaluation of effectiveness. ¶3. (U) SOMINA reporting can be read at www.sominaonline.com or received via email at info@sominaonline.com. ¶4. (U) COMMENT: Djibouti already hosts nearly two dozen Somali journalists, many of whom write for web-based publications or other Somali news agencies. The opening of SOMINA underscores the opportunity to use Djibouti-based Somali journalists as part of U.S., U.N, and/or AMISOM public diplomacy and strategic communications programs aimed at Somalis. END COMMENT. SWAN