Mogadishu - African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) have lauded the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) for support offered in establishing community radio stations in the country.

The commendations were made on Thursday at a meeting attended by key stakeholders including representatives of community based organizations.

AMISOM and the FGS plan to establish community radio stations in HirShabelle, Jubbaland and South West next month. The FGS and the three federal member states have already approved the project, which will be launched in Kismayo, Baidoa and Belet Weyne. UNSOS has been at the forefront in providing the necessary logistical support for the grand project.

During the meeting, both the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia, Simon Mulongo, and the Director of Communication in the Office the President of Somalia, Abdinur Mohamed Ahmed, hailed UNSOS for supporting the initiative aimed at promoting peace and unity in communities.

 “I want to thank UNSOS specifically for availing the equipment and for responding to your application through AMISOM to have these radios,” the DSRCC said.

Mr. Ahmed echoed the DSRCC’s remarks, saying the FGS was grateful to UNSOS for its role in making the project a reality.

“I want to thank UNSOS and AMISOM for the support in establishing these radios.”

It is hoped that the community radios will help inform and alter attitudes, by providing the ordinary people with a voice, thereby empowering them, through targeted messaging on issues such as peace-building, countering violent extremism, constitutional review and the 2020 elections and federalism among others.

Following a request by community based organizations, channeled through AMISOM, UNSOS offered to provide the equipment for the establishment of community radio stations in the three federal member states.