Australia Trains Somali Journalists to Fight Disinformation

Somalia’s journalists are gaining new skills to combat the growing threat of disinformation through a three-day training program launched this week in Mogadishu. The initiative, organized by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) with support from the Australian government, aims to strengthen information integrity in a country where misinformation threatens public trust and social cohesion.

The program, running from October 25-27, brings together 32 journalists from across Somalia, including representatives from all five Federal Member States. Participants are developing practical tools to identify, counter and prevent the spread of false information while upholding ethical journalism standards.

“Disinformation is a serious challenge to journalism, information integrity, social well-being and peace in Somalia,” said Omar Faruk Osman, Secretary General of NUSOJ, during the opening ceremony. “Journalists must have the skills, confidence and ethical grounding to independently identify falsehoods disguised as disinformation and misinformation and protect the truth.”

The training comes at a critical juncture for Somalia’s media landscape, which has been transformed by digital platforms where unverified information can spread rapidly. With the proliferation of social media, false narratives often reach audiences faster than fact-checked reporting, creating challenges for professional journalists and threatening democratic processes.

Australian High Commissioner to Kenya Jenny Da Rin, whose diplomatic mission covers Somalia, participated virtually in the opening session, emphasizing the global nature of the disinformation challenge. “The spread of false narratives poses real risks to public trust,” Da Rin noted, adding that false information undermines public health initiatives, disrupts elections, and weakens democratic institutions worldwide.

The Australian government’s support for this initiative reflects ongoing international concern about disinformation’s role in destabilizing emerging democracies. Somalia, which continues to rebuild after decades of conflict, has seen firsthand how manipulated information can exacerbate tensions and undermine peace-building efforts.

Abdinasir Hussein, Acting Director General of Somalia’s Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, welcomed the training as a timely intervention. Speaking on behalf of the Minister, Hussein emphasized the shared interests of journalists and government in combating disinformation. “By empowering journalists with knowledge and skills, we are collectively strengthening the media’s role in promoting peace, stability, democracy and national unity,” he said.

The comprehensive curriculum features experienced media trainers leading interactive sessions on practical skills including fact-checking, digital verification, and debunking falsehoods. Participants are also learning techniques to counter violent extremist narratives and propaganda, navigate ethically through politically sensitive environments, and enhance digital safety.

Notably, the training addresses the challenge of “unintentional amplification” – when journalists inadvertently spread misinformation by reporting on false claims without proper verification. Through group exercises, case studies, and reporting simulations, participants are developing protocols to ensure accuracy even when covering controversial topics.

The initiative also creates valuable networking opportunities among Somalia’s media professionals, encouraging collaboration across regions that have historically experienced communication barriers. This cross-regional dialogue represents an important step in building media resilience against coordinated disinformation campaigns.

For Somalia, strengthening journalistic standards carries particular significance. The country has one of Africa’s youngest populations, with many citizens relying primarily on social media for news. Professional journalists play a crucial role in providing reliable alternatives to unverified information circulating online.

The training program forms part of NUSOJ’s broader strategy to enhance information integrity throughout Somalia. By investing in journalists’ professional development, particularly among younger media practitioners, the union aims to build a media community capable of confronting falsehoods with facts and reinforcing journalism’s role as a cornerstone of democratic development.

As Somalia continues its journey toward greater stability, the ability of its journalists to provide accurate, ethical reporting will remain essential to informed public discourse and accountable governance.