Minister of Information Concludes IMCTC "Peace Journalists" Training Initiative in Mogadishu

Mogadishu, (SONNA) — The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, H.E. Abdifatah Qasim Mohamud, today concluded a four-day training programme in Mogadishu held under the strategic “Peace Journalists” initiative, organised by the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC).

The Minister was joined at the closing ceremony by the Director-General of Defence at the Ministry of Defence, Mr Abdulkadir Abukar Mohamed; Somalia’s Representative to the IMCTC, Brigadier General Abdirahman Mohamed Turyare; and the coalition’s Head of Media, Colonel Fahad Ammar Al-Qahtani.

The programme brought together journalists from state and private media organisations, as well as digital content creators. Participants received training in analysing extremist narratives, identifying disinformation, countering hate speech and developing effective messages to confront terrorist propaganda.

Officials attending the closing ceremony underscored the vital role of the media in the fight against terrorism, particularly in countering extremist ideology, raising public awareness, and strengthening peace and unity among the Somali people.

The “Peace Journalists” initiative forms part of the cooperation between the Federal Government of Somalia and the IMCTC. It aims to strengthen national institutional capacity and enhance the role of the Somali media in countering terrorism and disinformation while promoting public safety and social cohesion.