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Amr Yehia

Somalia has called for stronger coordinated Arab media engagement internationally to document alleged Israeli violations against Palestinians, amplify Palestinian voices and improve the protection of journalists. The appeal was made by Abdifatah Kasim Mohamud, Somalia’s Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, as he chaired the 56th ordinary session of the Council of Arab Information Ministers at the League of Arab States headquarters in Cairo on November 4, 2026.

Mohamud urged Arab governments to implement the existing Arab media action plan abroad through credible multilingual reporting and closer cooperation between media institutions and diplomatic missions. He said such efforts should help international audiences understand developments affecting Palestinians while providing a more accurate account of Arab societies and their priorities. His remarks were reported by Somalia’s official news agency, SONNA, and Egyptian media covering the meeting.

The Somali minister reaffirmed his country’s support for Palestinian self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. He also called on Arab media organisations to document reported violations, communicate the experiences of Palestinian civilians and defend journalists’ right to work safely.

Arab Ministers Discuss International Media Outreach on Palestine

The meeting brought together Arab information officials to consider joint media cooperation, the Palestinian issue and ways to strengthen Arab communication with international audiences. According to the Qatar News Agency’s account of the council’s concluding statement, ministers reaffirmed support for Palestinian rights, called for greater protection of Palestinian journalists and urged stronger efforts to document alleged violations and promote accurate international reporting.

The statement also called for coordination among Arab media organisations, diplomatic representatives and relevant regional bodies. These positions reflected the council’s collective response, while Mohamud’s proposals for multilingual content and diplomatic coordination formed part of his intervention as session chair.

The council met under Somalia’s presidency in the presence of Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy. The Saudi Press Agency reported that the agenda included the Arab media action plan abroad, countering extremist propaganda and improving the region’s digital media capabilities.

Digital Platforms, Disinformation and Responsible Use of AI

Beyond Palestine, Mohamud urged Arab states to cooperate more closely in digital media regulation, verification and the response to online disinformation. He called for a common approach to dealing with international media and technology companies, including transparency in content policies, intellectual property protection and effective complaint procedures.

The minister pointed to Somalia’s experience of conflict and reconciliation to argue that responsible reporting can help protect national unity and public trust. He advocated greater exchange of professional expertise to counter terrorist recruitment and propaganda without amplifying extremist messaging.

He also supported media literacy programmes and expanded training in fact-checking, data journalism and journalist safety. On artificial intelligence, Mohamud highlighted opportunities in translation, archiving and media production while calling for safeguards relating to accuracy, privacy and creators’ rights. Editorial responsibility, he argued, should remain with human professionals.

Somalia pledged to work with the Arab League Secretariat and member states to follow up on the council’s priorities, identify implementation steps and review progress. The proposals presented in Cairo signal an intention to strengthen Arab media cooperation, but their practical reach will depend on subsequent implementation by participating governments and institutions.

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