Somalia, Saudi-backed coalition launch Peace Journalists initiative to counter extremist propaganda

Sunday August 23, 2026

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali government and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) on Saturday launched the Peace Journalists strategic media initiative in Mogadishu to strengthen national media capacity to address harmful content in the digital space.

The initiative, supported by the Saudi Arabian government, aims to strengthen national media capacity to counter extremist rhetoric, hate speech, disinformation and terrorist propaganda in the digital space.

The launch ceremony was attended by Somali Minister of Defense Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, IMCTC Secretary-General Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi, as well as senior Somali government, security and military officials.

Speaking at the event, Fiqi said countering terrorism could not rely solely on military and security operations but also required responsible media discourse capable of protecting communities from disinformation, radicalization and extremist propaganda.

He said the initiative would help promote the values of moderation and peaceful coexistence and praised the Saudi-led coalition for supporting the development of national capabilities and training media professionals.

Fiqi reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to remaining an active partner in efforts to combat terrorism and cut off its ideological, media and financial sources.

IMCTC Secretary-General Al-Moghedi said the initiative aims to equip journalists with skills beyond simply transmitting information, including analysis, verification, detecting disinformation and developing effective counter-narratives.

He said participants would be trained to identify sources of disinformation, expose fake accounts, detect coordinated influence operations and respond to extremist narratives.

The initiative includes a specialized training program for 40 journalists, academics and media specialists. The training will cover information disorder, digital verification, open-source intelligence, image and video analysis, network analysis, the psychological and social effects of extremist discourse, counter-narrative development and media literacy.

The program comes as Somalia faces growing pressure to take greater responsibility for its national security.

The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on Jan. 1, 2025, has faced significant funding and logistical challenges that have raised concerns about the future of the mission.

As international security arrangements evolve, the Somali government is expected to assume greater responsibility for the country’s security, including efforts to counter Al-Shabaab and other extremist groups.

The new initiative reflects the government’s broader approach to counterterrorism, which combines military operations with efforts to challenge extremist propaganda and influence in the digital and information space.