The Somali Government has launched a sister station to the national broadcaster, Daljir TV, which will be dedicated to countering al-Shabab propaganda.
The station which will be based in Mogadishu will broadcast programs on the ongoing military operations and activities of the Somali Armed Forces.Â
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday officially launched the new station designed to help the government which is trying to fight the group from different fronts.Â
The government believes in covering issues related to Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism , the media can play both a positive and help efforts to degrade al-Shabab.
The medium is the latest innovation by the government which has declared a total war against members of the militant group al-Shabba.
The group has besieged the Federal Government, its member states and allied foreign troops for the last 15 years.
The Somali Armed Forces and allied local militia have recently removed the group from key strategic towns the group has held for years.Â
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud toured the facility housing the new government media located at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
The head of state said the television will play a significant role in disseminating information aimed at ensuring the Somali people have real and accurate information about the militants.Â
“The idea behind this channel is to be part of efforts aimed at dissoluting the militants who are being fought by all Somalis. What we are witnessing today is the media taking its role,†said President Hassan Sheikh.
The ministry of Information said the new Television Network will be characterized by trustworthiness and objectivity in providing citizens with information, facts and regulations that affect the security and stability of society.
The media is intended to stand in the face of the open media which tries, from time to time, to negate the role of the state and threaten the society through messages that appeal to deviation, crime and radical ideas.
Recently the Somali government limited the coverage of the group in the mainstream media, fronting an information war against the insurgents.Â
The government has also deactivated dozens of online networks belonging to the group that propagated information from the militants.
