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MOGADISHU, 10 November 2026 Somali National University and Dawan Media have held talks on strengthening cooperation in journalism education and countering misinformation, aiming to build closer links between university training and Somalia's newsrooms.
University President Prof. Dr. Mohamed Mohamud Mohamed received a Dawan Media delegation at the university's main campus in Mogadishu on Tuesday. The delegation included Dawan Media CEO Alinur Salaad, Editorial Director Ali Halane and Political Editor Zamzam Daqare.
According to a statement from the university, the two sides discussed media development and ways to strengthen the skills, knowledge and professional ethics of Somali journalists through the Department of Journalism and Communication in the Faculty of Social Sciences.
They also discussed how the two institutions could work together to raise public awareness and counter misinformation, with the aim of strengthening the role of the media in Somali society.
The talks come as Somalia's media continues to work under pressure. Somalia ranked 126th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, up from 136th in 2025.
Alinur Salaad said Somalia's media could only earn public trust through an integrated approach that connects education, research and reporting.
“Somalia's media sector can no longer work in isolation. Credible journalism today depends on an integrated system where research, training, technology and reporting support one another,” Salaad said. “Misinformation spreads faster than ever, and the strongest answer to it is a well-trained, ethical press that the public can trust.”
He said cooperation with the university would be a long-term investment in Somali journalism. “By working with Somali National University, we are building the next generation of journalists who will tell Somalia's story accurately, professionally and with confidence, both at home and to the world. Somalia deserves to be reported by Somalis who understand it best.”
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Mohamud Mohamed said the university's role extended beyond teaching to shaping public understanding through research, debate and public discussion.
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“A university serves society best when it produces knowledge people can use and creates space for informed public debate,” he said. “Through research, public lectures and open dialogue, Somali National University is working to build a more informed and responsible society.”
He said cooperation with Dawan Media would connect classroom learning with professional practice. “Our responsibility is to produce skilled and ethical young journalists who understand both the profession and its duty to the public. Working with Dawan Media, which presents news from Somalia to regional and international audiences, gives our students a direct link between what they learn and the realities of a modern newsroom.”
The Department of Journalism and Communication was first established in 1979 and reopened in 2019. It trains students to become skilled journalists and communicators, giving them the knowledge and practical skills needed to work in the media and to deliver accurate and unbiased information to the public.
Somali National University has recently expanded its partnerships with other institutions, including the launch of an EAC postgraduate diploma with SIMAD University [ADD LINK].
Dawan Media Group was established in 2023 and is based in Mogadishu. It covers Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa through three platforms: Dawan TV in Somali, Dawan Africa in English, and an Arabic-language platform that connects the region with audiences in the Arab world.
The group produces news, analysis, business and political coverage, as well as podcasts including Mizan and Daryeel, the first dedicated Somali-language health podcast. Through its training arm, Dawan Academy, it runs programmes for Somali journalists, including Journalism 360, a newsroom skills course launched with SIMAD Creative Studio.
In October 2026, Dawan Media Group received a media award for its coverage of EACON 2026, the East African Community conference held in Mogadishu.