media landscape guide about Somalia - Internews

Although Somalia has been in a state of almost perpetual conflict since then,some sectors of the country’s unregulated economy have developed fasterthan in most other African countries.These include the livestock trade, telecommunications, money transfersystems and the media.Financial remittances from the Somali diaspora in the Middle East, Europeand North America provide an important cash injection to the local economy.The highly developed, if sometimes chaotic, media and telecommunicationssectors allow for quick and effective communication with the population, evenin areas where poor security limits freedom of movement.The media landscape is diverse, lively and constantly changing. Many radioand TV stations, newspapers and websites are closely linked to particularclans or political factions.Aid agencies should treat such media outlets with caution to avoid becomingidentified with any particular interest group.Gossip and rumour play a major role in Somali society.The media are widely used to spread incorrect information, hate speech andpolitical propaganda.Somalia at a glancePopulation 9.3 million (World Bank 2010)Main languageSomaliRadios per 1,000 peopleNot availableTV sets per 1,000 peopleNot availableGDP per capita $298 (UN 2008)Adult literacy rate 38% (CIA World Factbook 2001)Mobile phone penetration Estimates range from 25% to 39%Mobile network coverageNot availableInternet subscribers 2009 106,000 (CIA World Factbook 2009)Ranking in UN HumanNot includedDevelopment Index 2010Ranking in RSF World Press 161 (out of 178)Freedom Index 201010