References: Transitional Federal Charter of the Somali Government, Article 20 section 1 and 2.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

References: Transitional Federal Charter of the Somali Government, Article 20 section 1 and 2.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Somalia has been without a government since Siad Barre was ousted in1991.

Article states: "1. Any person establishing an unauthorized and unregistered media agency or disseminates information would be brought to justice and the media agency would be immediately closed.

"2. A company or a person demonstrating an unlawful publication would be fined an amount of money between US$50 to US$150 if his actions do not constitute a more serious offense."

References: A/rashiid A/dulle Abiikar, Training Secretary of National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), (NUSOJ headquarters, July 20, 2008).

Art. 13, Unlawful Media

References: Ministry of Information.

National Media council.

Regional office.

References: Abdirisaq Mahamuud Yusuf, General Director of Ministry of Information (Nasa Hablood Hotel, July 25, 2008).

Peer Review Comments: As with all comments and assessments on the Somali situation, it is to be noted that all this holds only in Transitional Federal Government (TFG)-controlled areas (which are shrinking) and not at all in the rebel-controlled areas under the control of Islamist movements, which totally clamp down on press freedom and press protection.

Somalia has been without effective regulation for the last two decades The government offers licenses but the people do not want to take anything from the government. That is why everyone can open any business entity without being regulated.

References: Abdirisaq Mahamuud Yusuf, General Director of Ministry of Information (Nasa Hablood Hotel, July 25, 2008).

Somalia has been without a government since Siad Barre was ousted in1991.

Article states: "1. Any person establishing an unauthorized and unregistered media agency or disseminates information would be brought to justice and the media agency would be immediately closed.

"2. A company or a person demonstrating an unlawful publication would be fined an amount of money between US$50 to US$150 if his actions do not constitute a more serious offense."

References: A/rashiid A/dulle Abiikar), Training Secretary of National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), (NUSOJ headquarters, July 20, 2008).

Article 13.

References: Ministry of Media and Information.

National Union of Somalia Journalists.

Regional office.

References: Abdirisaq Mahamuud Yusuf, General Director of Ministry of Information (Nasa Hablood Hotel, July 25, 2008).

References: Abdirisaq Mahamuud Yusuf, General Director of Ministry of Information (Nasa Hablood Hotel, July 25, 2008).

References: Maxamed Colaad Xasan, Writer, Associated Press (Wax-weyn Hotel, July 23, 2008).

Peer Review Comments: The government has no practical control over the Internet sources and access, so the score is not 50 but at least 75.

References: Maxamed Colaad Xasan, Writer, Associated Press (Wax-weyn Hotel, July 23, 2008).

References: Article 17, para 3, 4 and 5.

References: A/rashiid A/dulle Abiikar, Training Secretary of National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), (NUSOJ headquarters, July 20, 2008).

References: A/rashiid A/dulle Abiikar, Training Secretary of National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), (NUSOJ headquarters, July 20, 2008).

"3) Ownership, Administration and Responsibility: Every media owned privately should have an owner to be contacted and an executor accountable for the operations. The ownership certificate, the name of the owned his address/residence, his personal address, the type of the media should be attached to the application for registration. Likewise, the application should reveal the name, knowledge and experience of the executor. b) The two positions i.e. owner and executor could be assumed by one person if required.

"4) The Title of the Media: Every media agency should posses a title and an office like a P.O. Box, e-mail, Fax and telephone. In case any of these titles are not available the others should be used.

a) No media agency can be established until the afore-mentioned requirements are fully completed.

"5- Timeframe: The authorization for the establishment of the media agency will be given within (30) days when the conditions and requirement prescribed in the presented law are fully and accordingly met. If there are no tangible reasons the media cannot undertake any activity during the waiting period for the authorization."

a) Authorization would be issued to the operating media at present within 30 days starting from the date of the presentation of the request. The said media agencies can continue their operations until the reception or denial of the authorization of the Ministry of Information. .

6- Complaint.  The applicant forwarding the request for the establishment of a private media agency or a previously operating media agency and not satisfied with the National Media Councils decision have the right to present a complaint to the Ministry of information. If not satisfied with the decision of the Ministry of information, the applicant has the right to forward the complaint to the regional court within10 days starting from the date the decision were taken by the Ministry of information.

References: Article 7, Registration, Services, Ownership, Administration and Responsibility.

Peer Review Comments: In theory this may be true, but it can hardly be checked effectively.

References: Article 20.

References: A/rashiid A/dulle Abiikar, Training Secretary of National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), (NUSOJ headquarters, July 20, 2008).

Peer Review Comments: I think, in general, that the Somali journalists in Somalia do a very commendable job with courage and persistence, but I think we do not have enough information to say categorically that they adhere to "strict, professional practices in their reporting."

References: C/rashiid C/dulle Abiikar (or A/rashiid A/dulle Abiikar), Training Secretary of National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), (NUSOJ headquarters, July 20, 2008).

Peer Review Comments: The question is not applicable. There are no real independently operating parties in Southern Somalia, and fair media coverage cannot be ascertained. It may, however, apply to Somaliland, the one exception to the chaos in Somali.

References: Abdurisaq Mahamud Yusuf, General Director of Somali Ministry of Information (Nasa hablool Hotel, July 25, 2008).

References: A/rashiid A/dulle Abiikar, Training Secretary of National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), (NUSOJ headquarters, July 20, 2008).

Mohamed Olaad Hassan, Writer, Associated Press, (Wax-Weyn Hotel, July 2008).

Peer Review Comments: Not in Transitional Federal Government (TFG) government territories, but outside of them, yes.

References: A/rashiid A/dulle Abiikar), Training Secretary of National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), (NUSOJ headquarters, July 20, 2008).

Mohamed Olaad Hassan, Writer, Associated Press, (Wax-Weyn Hotel, July 2008).

Peer Review Comments: Not by the government, but certainly by the Islamist opposition groups.

References: A/rashiid A/dulle Abiikar, Training Secretary of National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), (NUSOJ headquarters, July 20, 2008).

Mohamed Olaad Hassan, Writer, Associated Press, (Wax-Weyn Hotel, July 2008).

Peer Review Comments: No journalists specifically working on corruption were killed. But some have been killed in various parts of the three Somalias (Puntland, Somaliland and Southern Somalia). Foer example, Somali journalist and union leader Nasteh Dahir Farah was killed on June 7, 2008, in Kismayo. Source: [ LINK ].