Hiiraan Online
Sunday, March 20, 2016
MOGADISHU (HOL) – More than five years have passed since the winner-take-all game for the leadership of Somali journalists’ union leadership started, splitting up the journalists’ union into two competing factions that journalists said further complicated their already precarious situation.
The protracted battles that involved two namesake groups bearing the title of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) have also increased pressure on international organizations that supported Somali journalists for years.
The latter had also challenged journalists covering challenges facing Somali journalists seeing that each group referred itself as the legitimate union of the Somali journalists.
Numerous attempts aimed at ending the dispute failed, with each group shunned the other as ‘illegitimate’, impeding prospected of any settlement.
However, Somalia’s high court had instructed Benadir appeals court to ensure holding an election to elect a new secretary general.
“With reference to previous decision No.MS/09/2016 the High Court sent a letter dated 15 March 2016 asking the Benadir Appeals Court to observe the upcoming elections and to ensure that the election is fair and free and that all journalists will have the opportunity to elect their leaders in order for them to have the legitimacy needed to represent Somali journalist.” said a statement by the president of the high court on Saturday.
The court had further instructed the Benadir court’s chief to organize the union’s election with the selection of ‘independent’ and ‘neutral’ from NUSOJ leadership’s candidates.
“The High Court expresses the importance of Somali journalists’ role to the society, therefore, urges them to take part the process so that all journalists will have the opportunity to elect their leaders in order to have a legitimate NUSOJ that can represent the interest of Somali journalists. “ the statement added.
The court which nonetheless paved the way for the candidature of former secretary generals of the union to run for the upcoming had however warned that they would not be allowed to a ‘fake’ general assembly to declare themselves as secretary generals.
“This way, the country will elect legitimate NUSOJ leaders that are accountable to Somali journalists.” It said.
It’s unclear if the court’s decision would help ending the controversy which journalists said left them vulnerable to state oppression in the face of violations and attacks that are still being perpetrated against journalists who often put their lives at stake in order to disseminate information and propagate truths.