By: Yusuf M Hasan
ADDIS ABABA (Somalilandsun) – Plans are afoot to avail local journalists support from African governments and other international donors.
This was revealed by the Secretary General of the Somaliland Journalist Association-SOLJA, Mr. Mohamed-Rashid Muhumed Farah who is attending the 20th African Union-AU Summit in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.
According to Mr. Mohamed-Rashid, anticipations are high that a number of African and Western governments as well international donors might assist SOLJA provide training to local journalist both in Somaliland and abroad.
“We are optimistic of support following a number of meetings with some African heads of states, Western diplomats and representatives of international donor organizations attending the AU summit” Said Mohamed-Rashid
The SOLJA boss said that his organization which is attending the AU summit for the first time ever, has managed to conduct the meetings by courtesy of the Journalists for African Renaissance (JAR) which is fronted by the AU, which has also official invitation to the summit.
Apart from training other areas expected to receive support include a kitty for legal services and the construction and equipping of a media centre that is geared towards availing local print and electronic journalists access to tools of their trade that are reported to be lacking and where available they are insufficient.
While the SOLJA boss has lobbied a number of countries and organizations representativies it is only Kenya and the Mohamed Foundation that have so far made commitments while a couple others are expected to do likewise by the end of the one week summit.
In Conclusion Mohamed-Rashid M Farah thanks the chair of the Journalists for African Renaissance (JAR) Ms Muha Dahir Farah who made the invitation, trip and subsequent arrangements in Addis Ababa possible.
Ms Muha Dahir is a prominent local journalists who became the first Somalilander and Woman to be elected leader of the Journalists for African Renaissance body, a post she has held for two consequetive terms of two years each.
the 20th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State, the Presidency said.
The 20th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State also commemorated the Golden Jubilee celebration for the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the OAU/AU, which would was marked on 25 May 2013, said spokesman Mac Maharaj.
“The Assembly will pay tribute to the generations of the Pan Africanist and the founding fathers of the continental organisation,” said AU spokesman Mac Maharaj
Some of the issues that are expected to be deliberated on during the week long summit include peace and security issues in Africa, Nepad and the African peer review.
South African president Jacob Zuma is also expected to announce the convening of the first BRICS Leaders-Africa Dialogue Forum. The Dialogue will focus on unlocking BRICS-Africa potential for co-operation on Infrastructure.
BRICS is an acronym for the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
