Mogadishu's Ministry of Information reports a significant increase in the closure of online platforms used for extremist propaganda this year.
Somalia's federal government has closed 82,000 social media pages in 2026, which officials allege were used by terrorist groups to spread extremist propaganda. Abdullahi Hayir Duale, director general of the Ministry of Information, stated that the government is intensifying its ideological and public awareness campaigns against armed groups, viewing ideological warfare as a crucial component of its counterterrorism strategy.
Duale explained that the fight against extremist groups operates on three fronts: military, economic, and ideological. He noted that the Ministry of Information has been actively closing thousands of pages across platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Telegram in recent years. The number of pages shut down in 2026 is still rising as the year has not yet concluded, and extremist groups frequently re-emerge with new pages after their accounts are removed.
To counter extremist narratives, the Ministry of Information is also leveraging national media, artists, television programs, and Somali religious scholars to educate the public. Duale emphasized that these national media platforms reach millions of people both within Somalia and abroad, playing a vital role in the government's efforts to combat the spread of extremist ideologies.
Why it mattersThe government's closure of social media pages aims to prevent the spread of extremist propaganda, potentially impacting public discourse and the reach of extremist ideologies within Somalia and among its diaspora.
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