Somalia, IMCTC Launch ‘Peace Journalists’ Training to Counter Terrorist Propaganda

Mogadishu, (SONNA) — The Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), Major General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghidi, and Somalia’s Director-General for Defence at the Ministry of Defence, Abdulkadir Mohamed Abukar, jointly inaugurated a four-day training programme in Mogadishu under the strategic “Peace Journalists” initiative.

The programme focuses on analysing extremist messaging and hate speech circulated on social media, while equipping participants with modern tools and techniques to counter terrorist propaganda.

Journalists and media professionals from state and private outlets, alongside social media influencers, are receiving training on identifying and analysing disinformation disseminated by terrorist groups and developing effective public-awareness messages that promote peace and social cohesion.

The initiative forms part of cooperation between Somalia and the IMCTC to strengthen the media’s role in countering terrorism, enhance the capacity of media professionals and prevent the spread of extremist ideology.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Brig. Gen. Abdirahman Mohamed Turyare, Somalia’s representative to the IMCTC, and officials from the Coalition.