Former Somalia press freedom founder welcomed the ICG position

The Somalia’s press freedom founder his excellence Mr. Daud Abdi Daud, who heads now the African Federation of Environmental Journalists (AFEJ) marked today his joyful words after being discussed over phone the UK’s Foreign Secretary William Hague from Nairobi, Kenya.

 The 21st meeting of the International Contact Group (ICG) on Somalia was held under the chairmanship of the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Dr Augustine Mahiga, from 5-6 February 2012 in Djibouti.

“The ICG strongly condemns all forms of violence and intimidation against Somali journalists and media organisations, and urges the Somali authorities to end impunity, investigate and prosecute those responsible”.

Somali journalists have been under attack since the formation of Somalia’s Islamists courts Union (ICU) in 2005. The current environment is very dangerous and there will be no one to report the daily atrocities and the humanitarian crisis still exists in many parties of Somalia. Since 2005 more than 35 journalists have been killed in Somalia including foreigners.

Participants of the ICG meeting were: African Union, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Djibouti, East African Community, Egypt, Ethiopia, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Islamic Development Bank, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea (Republic), League of Arab States, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Netherlands, Norway, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia (TFG, TFP, Puntland, Galmudug, Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a), South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Nations, United States of America, Yemen and World Bank.