The initiative was unveiled in the presence of Somalia’s Minister of Defence Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and IMCTC Secretary General Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi, who was visiting the Somali capital, alongside senior government, security and military officials.

Amb. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi said counterterrorism efforts require more than military and security operations, emphasizing the role of professional media in challenging extremist narratives, preventing misinformation and strengthening public awareness. He also praised the coalition and Saudi Arabia for supporting Somalia’s broader campaign against terrorism and efforts to address extremist messaging.

"Countering terrorism cannot rely solely on military and security efforts,” Fiqi said during the launch, arguing that responsible media can help protect communities from radicalization and misleading propaganda.

IMCTC said the specialized program is designed to train 40 participants, including journalists, academics and media specialists. Training areas include digital verification, open-source intelligence, image and video analysis, identifying coordinated influence operations, media literacy and developing credible counter-narratives.

Al-Moghedi said the program seeks to equip journalists with practical tools to identify manipulation in the digital information environment. He said professional media practitioners should be capable of detecting disinformation sources and fake accounts and responding effectively to extremist messaging.

"Informed words build awareness, professional information counters disinformation, and responsible media protects a society,” Al-Moghedi said, describing journalists as important partners in efforts to strengthen social resilience.

Event information reviewed by Diplomat News Network showed the initiative forms part of a wider IMCTC engagement with Somali institutions across ideological, communications, counterterrorism financing and military fields. The Mogadishu program also reflects growing attention to the information dimension of Somalia’s long-running campaign against militant groups.

Somalia has spent years confronting Al-Shabaab through military operations, financial measures and efforts to counter the group’s ideological influence. Authorities have increasingly emphasized public communication and digital platforms as another arena in which extremist organizations seek influence.

For Somali journalists, the program places additional focus on verification skills as social media accelerates the circulation of manipulated images, misleading claims and coordinated messaging. The initiative also raises the importance of maintaining professional independence and established journalistic standards when reporting on national security.

The launch deepens Somalia’s counterterrorism cooperation with the Saudi-supported coalition and broadens that partnership beyond battlefield operations. Its longer-term significance will depend on how participants apply the training in newsrooms and whether stronger verification practices translate into more reliable public information.