Educational Media Reviews Online

In 1991, the East African nation of Somalia descended into civil war. It has been fighting that war, in one way or another, ever since. The country has no government to speak of, and has become the preserve of feuding warlords and their private armies. Many Somalis have fled the violence and anarchy of their country and gone to the West. Most hope that one day they will be able to return home. Three Somali expatriates now living in Canada: Ahmed, Mohamad and Ali, have returned to their nation's capital Mogadishu, and have done so to help bring peace to their country. They founded HornAfric, a radio and television station dedicated to freedom of information. It is the philosophy of the station that only through the free exchange of ideas, and a frank assessment of the many problems that face the country, will Somalia ever be able to rebuild itself. By pursuing this goal all three have put themselves and those who work for them in grave danger. Somalia is a very violent place, and there is no police force or army that they can count on to protect them. This film follows the lives and work of these three men, and the employees of the station, as they struggle to address the violence and poverty that presently wrack their country.

As the film begins, Ahmed leaves his family behind in Ottawa, Canada to join Ali in Mogadishu. He will stay there for one year, and then return. Mohamad will stay behind in Ottawa, and look after not only his family, but that of Ali and Ahmed as well. Normally two of the men are in Somalia, while one is in Canada. Each of the three men takes a turn in Mogadishu, and alternately, in Ottawa as a kind of surrogate Father to the families of the other two. This causes great strain for themselves, their wives and their children, not only because of the long periods of separation, but because of the great danger they expose themselves to when they are away.

Every day reporters from HornAfric venture into Mogadishu, always with armed escorts, to report on the events happening in the city. These escorts provide some protection, but cannot guarantee the safety of the reporters, who are constantly under treat of violence. The station has over 50 employees, all of whom, reporters or not, are in peril because of the lawless conditions of the city. The station has been attacked on more than one occasion, and must be guarded around the clock by armed men. The Reporters bring a depressing litany of murders, kidnappings and other acts of violence to their viewers and listeners, but even more frequently they focus on the conditions of the dispossessed. This is a city, and a country, where there are no public services to speak of, no schools for children to attend, and in general great poverty and want. Many are homeless, and a large number of these are children. The street child is a common sight in Mogadishu. Most survive by begging or selling what knickknacks they can find. Many end up joining the militia of a local warlord, drawn by the obvious influence and power of such a group. In contemporary Somalia, power is in the hands of those that have the guns, so the militias provide what little order that presently exists there.

The warlords often resent the station's broadcasts, which they feel show them in a bad light. They usually have there own radio stations, which they use to spread a message of hatred and division. A message that helps to keep them in power! HornAfric on the other hand, tries to encourage reconciliation and the rebuilding of Somali society. As a consequence, the warlords are usually those responsible for the attacks on HornAfric. The station is quite popular with the public however, and this support has allowed it to survive and resist pressure from the Militias. Most Somalis see it as their one and only source of unbiased news, as well as a forum whereby national problems can be discussed and solutions for them sought out. HornAfric airs a number of radio and television talk shows where such issues are addressed by average people. These have become so popular that even the warlords have chosen to appear on them, to improve their public image.

The task of rebuilding Somalia, in which HornAfric has been a major participant, has been retarded by well meaning, but ill-planed international efforts to resolve the conflict in that country. In 1992 the U.S. sent troops there to ensure the delivery of humanitarian supplies. They almost immediately came into conflict with the militias, especially that of a particular warlord, Mohamad Aidid. During a U.S. attack intended to eliminate Aidid, 50 Somali clan elders were killed, leading to riots that resulted in the famous "Blackhawk Down" incident in which 2 U.S. helicopters were shot down and 18 Americans killed. Shocked by the loss of life, U.S. forces withdrew not long after, and the international community more or less washed its hands of Somalia. Since 9/11 the United States has attempted to seal Somalia's borders, fearing the lawless country could be used as a base for Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. This has done nothing to help the Somalis, has in fact further isolated them from the outside world, and uses up money and other resources that otherwise might be used to help them. Conferences have been sponsored by surrounding African states, such at that in Eldoret, Kenya, which are intended to encourage the Somalis to stop fighting and build a viable national government. Eldoret failed however, because the various Somali factions involved could not agree, and because the sponsor states (Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya) were more interested in fighting among themselves than in encouraging consensus.

In spite of these many problems and obstacles, HornAfric continues its effort to rebuild Somalia by encouraging the free exchange of ideas and national reconciliation. It has become a model for using media to promote peace in a society actively involved in civil war, and as such has been awarded the International Freedom of Expression Award in Canada. At the end of the film Ahmed returns to his family in Ottawa, who are happy and relieved to see him again. In spite of this joyous reunion, everyone knows he will eventually go back to Mogadishu, as will Mohamad and Ali in their turn. Their sacrifice, and that of their families and coworkers, will continue! The war will also continue, as long as the people of Somalia allow the warlords to keep it going. It is only when they find the strength and resolve to remove these men, that peace and reunification will return. Until that time, HornAfric will be there to help them, and provide them with the information they need to build a better future.

This film will be most understandable to those who already have some familiarity with Somali current affairs and history, though it is certainly not a necessity. It is well paced and engaging, and its sound and picture qualities are good. It is provided with an excellent voiceover narration in English, and both English and Somali are spoken therein. The Somali language is subtitled in English, but English spoken with a Somali accent is not, and as a consequence can be hard to understand in some instances.