MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi opened the 2026 National Strategic Communication Forum in Mogadishu on Monday, bringing government officials, journalists, civil society groups and international partners together to examine how public communication and the media should adapt to a rapidly changing digital environment.
The forum, organized by Somalia’s Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, is focusing on some of the central challenges facing the country’s information landscape, including misinformation, media ethics, technological change and the growing use of artificial intelligence in journalism.
Participants are discussing how government institutions and media organizations can improve public communication while maintaining professional standards and public trust in an environment increasingly shaped by social media, digital platforms and AI-generated content.
The gathering also provides a forum for media practitioners and civil society organizations to consider the opportunities and risks created by new technologies, including the potential for artificial intelligence to accelerate news production while complicating questions of accuracy, verification and accountability.
For Somalia, the debate carries particular significance. The country’s information environment has become increasingly digital, while political, security and social issues can spread rapidly across online platforms. That has made the ability to verify information and communicate clearly during periods of crisis an increasingly important part of governance.
The forum brings together government officials, media professionals, civil society representatives and international partners in an effort to develop a broader conversation about the future of strategic communication in Somalia.
Discussions are expected to examine how institutions can respond to misinformation without undermining legitimate journalism, while encouraging stronger ethical standards and greater public access to reliable information.
The emphasis on artificial intelligence also reflects a broader transformation in the media industry, where emerging technologies are changing how information is produced, distributed and consumed.
The forum comes as Somalia continues to develop its institutional approach to strategic communication, with officials seeking closer cooperation between government, media and civil society to build a more resilient information environment.
